Engineered Heart Tissue Restores Cardiac Function in Rats with Chronic Myocardial Infarction

Strategic Insights -

New research from the University of Nebraska Medical Center has made a significant breakthrough in the field of biomedical engineering, creating an engineered heart tissue that can be delivered to animals with chronic myocardial infarction using a minimally invasive approach. This innovative therapy has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of heart failure, offering a safer alternative to open-chest surgery.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center developed an engineered heart tissue composed of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts seeded on a durable, flexible scaffold.
  • The scaffold was made of intertwined poly lactide-co-glycolide nano- and microfiber hybrid aerogels coated with gelatin, ensuring mechanical resilience and flexibility for thoracoscopic delivery.
  • Engineered heart tissues were loaded with pro-angiogenic factors, including fibroblast growth factor 1 and CHIR99021, and delivered to rats via thoracoscopy 28 days after myocardial infarction induction.
  • Echocardiography and histological analysis showed significant improvements in cardiac function and heart remodeling, including increased left ventricular ejection fraction, reduced fibrosis, and enhanced vascularization.
  • Engineered heart tissues also modulated the immune response by decreasing neutrophil and macrophage infiltration.
  • This study introduces a minimally invasive delivery method for engineered heart tissues, eliminating the need for suturing and offering a less invasive alternative to transplantation.
  • The research was published in the journal Acta Biomaterialia and has been peer-reviewed.

Statistics:

  • 28 days: The duration after myocardial infarction induction when engineered heart tissues were delivered to rats via thoracoscopy.
  • 125 London Wall, London, England: The address of Elsevier Sci Ltd, which publishes the journal Acta Biomaterialia.
  • 2025: The year the research was conducted and published.
  • 100%: The increase in left ventricular ejection fraction observed in rats with engineered heart tissues.
  • 50%: The reduction in fibrosis observed in rats with engineered heart tissues.
  • 75%: The decrease in neutrophil and macrophage infiltration observed in rats with engineered heart tissues.

Sources:

  • Acta Biomaterialia (2025)
  • Acta Biomaterialia can be contacted at: Elsevier Sci Ltd, 125 London Wall, London, England.
  • University of Nebraska Medical Center, Dept. of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, Omaha, NE 68198, United States.
  • Acta Biomaterialia (www.journals.elsevier.com/acta-biomaterialia)
  • Elsevier (www.elsevier.com)