A New Hope for Heart Attack Survivors

2023

New hope is on the horizon for heart attack survivors as researchers unveil a groundbreaking biomaterial that could potentially revolutionize heart attack treatment. A team of researchers, led by bioengineer Karen Christman from the University of California, San Diego, has developed a biomaterial capable of healing damaged heart tissue from the inside out.

Heart attacks result in the death of cardiac muscle tissue, leading to scarring and permanent damage within just six hours of the event. This damage hinders the heart's proper functioning, and current treatments are limited in their ability to prevent scar tissue formation.

Christman's team sought to address this limitation by creating a biomaterial that could initiate healing immediately after a heart attack, potentially salvaging tissue and promoting regeneration. In tests on rodents and pigs, the biomaterial showed promising results, repairing tissue damage and reducing inflammation shortly after a heart attack.

The key to the biomaterial's success lies in its composition, which includes the extracellular matrix—a lattice of proteins that provide structural support to cells in cardiac muscle tissue. Previous research had shown that stem cells derived from body fat could be used to heal various tissues, including the heart. Inspired by this, Christman's team wanted to harness the regenerative abilities of the extracellular matrix, which is more cost-effective than stem cells.

In 2009, the team created a hydrogel using particles from the extracellular matrix, but its larger size necessitated delivery through a needle, posing a risk of triggering arrhythmia. To address this issue, they modified the hydrogel, creating a thinner material composed of nanoparticles that could be delivered intravenously through heart blood vessels.

The results were promising. The modified biomaterial not only adhered to the damaged tissue but also bound to leaky blood vessels, preventing inflammatory cells from entering the heart tissue and causing further harm. This reduction in inflammation and stimulation of the healing process through cell growth could be a game-changer in heart attack treatment.

Although more safety studies are needed before the biomaterial is ready for clinical trials, researchers are optimistic about its potential. The first human trial is likely to focus on repairing cardiac tissue post-heart attack, with other applications, such as treating leaky blood vessels in the brain after traumatic injuries, also being considered.

This groundbreaking discovery could pave the way for a new era in heart attack treatment, offering hope to millions of patients worldwide.