Alginate-gelatin-silk fibroin-containing patches improve cardiac function in an in vivo myocardial infarction murine model
Transplantation of patches based on alginate and gelatin biomaterials represents a promising approach for improving cardiac function in vivo. To enhance the long-term durability and mechanical properties of alginate-gelatin patches, silk fibroin was added to the formulation, and 3D printed alginate-gelatin-silk fibroin patches without cells were transplanted into an in vivo myocardial infarction murine model. The focus of this study is to evaluate whether the addition of silk fibroin to alginate-gelatin hydrogels can protect against the reduction in cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Mice were divided into four experimental groups: sham, myocardial infarction, myocardial infarction with the transplanted alginate-gelatin patch and myocardial infarction with the transplanted alginate-gelatin-silk fibroin patches. The ultrasound analyses confirmed that silk fibroin-containing patches increase the left ventricular ejection fraction % by 20% in infarcted mice. Furthermore, histological and transcriptomic analyses demonstrate that alginate-gelatin-silk fibroin patches stimulate tissue-repairing processes, reduce cardiac fibrosis, increase cardiac remodeling and inflammatory-regulating gene expression, and recapitulate cardiac function and tissue homeostasis in myocardial infarction mice. Altogether, our in vivo findings support the biofabrication of advanced cardiac tissues containing alginate-gelatin-silk fibroin for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, representing a potential therapeutic approach for patients with myocardial infarction.
