Cardiopatch hope
March 8, 2012
A NEW type of stem cell-seeded
patch may help with healing after
heart attacks, according to a new
study in the Stem Cells
Translational Medicine journal.
The cardiopatch study, conducted
by researchers from Geneva
University, used cardiac-committed
mouse embryonic stem cells with a
protein growth factor called BMP2,
which were embedded into a
biocompatible and biodegradable
fibrin hydrogel, and grafted onto
the hearts of rats who then had
heart attacks.
The cells were loaded with
superparamagnetic iron oxide
nanoparticles so they could be
tracked using magnetic resonance
imaging, which also enabled the
more accurate assessment of
regional and global heart function.
Six weeks after the heart attacks
the hearts of the animals with the
patches showed significant
improvement over those without.
The results showed that the
patches had degraded, and that the
cells had colonized the infarcted
tissue and new blood vessels were
forming in the vicinity of the
transplanted patch.
Improvements were also shown
to have reached beyond the part of
the heart where the patch had
been applied to manifest globally.
“Altogether our data provides
evidence that stem-cell based
cardiopatches represent a
promising therapeutic strategy to
achieve efficient cell implantation
and improved global and regional
cardiac function after myocardial
infarction,” said head researcher
Professor Marisa Jacon.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 08 Mar 12To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 08 Mar 12
