Nanomaterial-Based Electrically Conductive Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Repair
Mingyu Lee,1 Min Chul Kim,2 Jae Young Lee1 1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; 2Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of KoreaCorrespond...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2022-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Nanomedicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/nanomaterial-based-electrically-conductive-hydrogels-for-cardiac-tissu-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN |
| _version_ | 1811293350845743104 |
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| author | Lee M Kim MC Lee JY |
| author_facet | Lee M Kim MC Lee JY |
| author_sort | Lee M |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mingyu Lee,1 Min Chul Kim,2 Jae Young Lee1 1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; 2Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Jae Young Lee, Tel +82 62 715 2358, Email jaeyounglee@gist.ac.krAbstract: Cardiovascular disease is one of major causes of deaths, and its incidence has gradually increased worldwide. For cardiovascular diseases, several therapeutic approaches, such as drugs, cell-based therapy, and heart transplantation, are currently employed; however, their therapeutic efficacy and/or practical availability are still limited. Recently, biomaterial-based tissue engineering approaches have been recognized as promising for regenerating cardiac function in patients with cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI). In particular, materials mimicking the characteristics of native cardiac tissues can potentially prevent pathological progression and promote cardiac repair of the heart tissues post-MI. The mechanical (softness) and electrical (conductivity) properties of biomaterials as non-biochemical cues can improve the cardiac functions of infarcted hearts by mitigating myocardial cell death and subsequent fibrosis, which often leads to cardiac tissue stiffening and high electrical resistance. Consequently, electrically conductive hydrogels that can provide mechanical strength and augment the electrical activity of the infarcted heart tissue are considered new functional materials capable of mitigating the pathological progression to heart failure and stimulating cardiac regeneration. In this review, we highlight nanomaterial-incorporated hydrogels that can induce cardiac repair after MI. Nanomaterials, including carbon-based nanomaterials and recently discovered two-dimensional nanomaterials, offer great opportunities for developing functional conductive hydrogels owing to their excellent electrical conductivity, large surface area, and ease of modification. We describe recent results using nanomaterial-incorporated conductive hydrogels as cardiac patches and injectable hydrogels for cardiac repair. While further evaluations are required to confirm the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of these materials, they could potentially be used for the regeneration of other electrically active tissues, such as nerves and muscles.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: nanomaterials, conductive, hydrogel, cardiac tissue engineering |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:00:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-93664943e75d46549ecbebf5af785379 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-2013 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:00:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Nanomedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-93664943e75d46549ecbebf5af7853792022-12-22T03:01:22ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Nanomedicine1178-20132022-12-01Volume 176181620080194Nanomaterial-Based Electrically Conductive Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue RepairLee MKim MCLee JYMingyu Lee,1 Min Chul Kim,2 Jae Young Lee1 1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; 2Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Jae Young Lee, Tel +82 62 715 2358, Email jaeyounglee@gist.ac.krAbstract: Cardiovascular disease is one of major causes of deaths, and its incidence has gradually increased worldwide. For cardiovascular diseases, several therapeutic approaches, such as drugs, cell-based therapy, and heart transplantation, are currently employed; however, their therapeutic efficacy and/or practical availability are still limited. Recently, biomaterial-based tissue engineering approaches have been recognized as promising for regenerating cardiac function in patients with cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI). In particular, materials mimicking the characteristics of native cardiac tissues can potentially prevent pathological progression and promote cardiac repair of the heart tissues post-MI. The mechanical (softness) and electrical (conductivity) properties of biomaterials as non-biochemical cues can improve the cardiac functions of infarcted hearts by mitigating myocardial cell death and subsequent fibrosis, which often leads to cardiac tissue stiffening and high electrical resistance. Consequently, electrically conductive hydrogels that can provide mechanical strength and augment the electrical activity of the infarcted heart tissue are considered new functional materials capable of mitigating the pathological progression to heart failure and stimulating cardiac regeneration. In this review, we highlight nanomaterial-incorporated hydrogels that can induce cardiac repair after MI. Nanomaterials, including carbon-based nanomaterials and recently discovered two-dimensional nanomaterials, offer great opportunities for developing functional conductive hydrogels owing to their excellent electrical conductivity, large surface area, and ease of modification. We describe recent results using nanomaterial-incorporated conductive hydrogels as cardiac patches and injectable hydrogels for cardiac repair. While further evaluations are required to confirm the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of these materials, they could potentially be used for the regeneration of other electrically active tissues, such as nerves and muscles.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: nanomaterials, conductive, hydrogel, cardiac tissue engineeringhttps://www.dovepress.com/nanomaterial-based-electrically-conductive-hydrogels-for-cardiac-tissu-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJNnanomaterialsconductivehydrogelcardiac tissue engineering |
| spellingShingle | Lee M Kim MC Lee JY Nanomaterial-Based Electrically Conductive Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Repair International Journal of Nanomedicine nanomaterials conductive hydrogel cardiac tissue engineering |
| title | Nanomaterial-Based Electrically Conductive Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Repair |
| title_full | Nanomaterial-Based Electrically Conductive Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Repair |
| title_fullStr | Nanomaterial-Based Electrically Conductive Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Repair |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanomaterial-Based Electrically Conductive Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Repair |
| title_short | Nanomaterial-Based Electrically Conductive Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Repair |
| title_sort | nanomaterial based electrically conductive hydrogels for cardiac tissue repair |
| topic | nanomaterials conductive hydrogel cardiac tissue engineering |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/nanomaterial-based-electrically-conductive-hydrogels-for-cardiac-tissu-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN |
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