Injectable Extracellular Matrix- Based Gels for Cardiac Regeneration

Injectable scaffolds were suggested in the recent years as a minimally invasive platform for cardiac tissue engineering. We have developed new injectable biomaterials which are based on porcine cardiac extracellular matrix (pcECM), and gel upon injection into the myocardium. Our pcECM-based gel formulations were demonstrated to support the viability and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as well as human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Furthermore, the pcECM-based gels were shown to affect cell morphology and to enhance differentiation towards the cardiac linage. In addition, the gel`s biocompatibility was comprehensively demonstrated in vitro and in vivo in mice model. Most importantly, the therapeutic efficacy of this injectable scaffold was demonstrated both in acute and chronic MI rat models. In these models, our pcECM-based gels remarkably enabled not only preservation, but also improvement in cardiac function. Altogether, our findings clearly point at these biomaterials as prospective scaffolds for the treatment of end-stage heart failure.