A collagen cardiac patch incorporating alginate microparticles permits the controlled release of hepatocyte growth factor and insulin ‐like growth factor‐1 to enhance cardiac stem cell migration and proliferation

Abstract Cardiac stem cells (CSCs) represent a logical cell type to exploit as a regenerative treatment option for tissue damage accrued as a result of a myocardial infarction. However, the isolation and expansion of CSCs prior to cell transplantation is time consuming, costly and invasive, and the reliability of cell expansion may also prove to be a major obstacle in the clinical application of CSC‐based transplantation therapy after a myocardial infarction. In order to overcome this, we propose the incorporation of growth factor‐eluting alginate microparticles into collagen‐based scaffolds as an implantable biomaterial to promote the recruitment and expansion of CSCs in the myocardium. In order to obtain scaffolds able to enhance the motogenic and proliferative potential of CSCs, the aim of this work was to achieve a sustained delivery of both hepatocyte growth factor and insulin‐like growth factor‐1. Both proteins were initially encapsulated in alginate microparticles by spray drying and subsequently incorporated into a collagen scaffold. Microparticles were seen to homogeneously distribute through the interconnected scaffold pore structure. The resulting scaffolds were capable of extending the release of both proteins up to 15 days, a three‐fold increase over non‐encapsulated proteins embedded in the scaffolds. In vitro assays with isolated CSCs demonstrated that the sustained release of both bioactive proteins resulted in an increased motogenic and prolife...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine - Category: Biotechnology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research