Cells and Materials for Cardiac Repair and Regeneration

Abstract

After more than 20 years following the introduction of regenerative medicine to address the problem of cardiac diseases, still questions arise as to the best cell types and materials to use to obtain effective clinical translation. Now that it is definitively clear that the heart does not have a consistent reservoir of stem cells that could give rise to new myocytes, and that there are cells that could contribute, at most, with their pro-angiogenic or immunomodulatory potential, there is fierce debate on what will emerge as the winning strategy. In this regard, new developments in somatic cells’ reprogramming, material science and cell biophysics may be of help, not only for protecting the heart from the deleterious consequences of aging, ischemia and metabolic disorders, but also to boost an endogenous regeneration potential that seems to be lost in the adulthood of the human heart.

Exosome-bearing hydrogels and cardiac tissue regeneration

“…Stronger interactions such as covalent connections and electrostatic interactions between the matrix and Exos can create more productive protection and immobilization of Exo [ 124 ]. According to the previous experiments, three main strategies are used to support Exo maintenance inside the hydrogels as follows [ 34 ];…”

“…As previously mentioned, several forms of hydrogels and crosslinking agents with different mechanisms have been exploited to develop Exo-loaded substrates in the field of cardiovascular tissue engineering [ 34 ]. However, challenges associated with the potential toxicity of chemical cross-linkers and possible detrimental effects on Exo integrity remain to be answered [ 163 ].…”

“…Regardless of cell type and the injection method, the regenerative outcome and restoration of cardiac tissue function are not satisfactory because of the low-rate engraftment capacity of transplant cells after administration into the target sites [ 34 ]. Thus, the most of studies related to cardiac cell therapy are restricted to experimental evaluation in animal models and clinical trials [ 35 ].…”

The Long and Winding Road to Cardiac Regeneration

“…Cell types used for cardiac regeneration can be broadly categorized into two groups: adult stem cells and pluripotent stem cells [75]. Adult stem cells, such as skeletal myoblasts (SMs), hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs), can be isolated from different tissues, including skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, peripheral blood, bone marrow, and heart tissue [76,77]. In addition, pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (reprogrammed somatic cells), possess a clear potential to differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes, setting them apart from adult stem cells [65,78,79].…”

Adjusting to Your Surroundings: An Inquiry-Based Learning Module to Teach Principles of Mechanobiology for Regenerative Medicine

“…On the other hand, appropriate mechanical stimulation can promote repair and regeneration [ 2 ]. Developing a deeper understanding of mechanobiology in disease has led to the development of mechanobiology-inspired therapies for numerous tissues, including bone [ 3 ], muscle [ 4 ], tendon [ 5 ], skin [ 6 ], heart [ 7 ], and liver [ 8 ]. To continue expanding the boundaries of mechanobiology research, there is a need to educate diverse students about mechanobiology.…”