Bioprinted Cardiac Patch Composed of Cardiac Progenitor Cells and Extracellular Matrix for Heart Repair and Regeneration.

摘要

We have successfully bioprinted a cardiac patch composed of both hCPCs and cECM for use in repairing damaged myocardial tissue. The inclusion of bioactive GelMA allowed for high fidelity printing of hCPCs, with cECM improving printability. The cardiac patches supported viable hCPCs, which had improved differentiation and release of pro-angiogenic factors in GelMA-cECM patches over GelMA patches. The patches also were highly hydrated scaffolds, degraded after several weeks in vitro for extended retention, and matched the mechanical properties of native myocardium. Patches were retained on rat hearts and showed neovascularization after 14 days of implantation. Future studies will be focused on in vivo implementation of the patches in rat models of heart failure to evaluate regenerative potential.