Cardiac ECM Bioscaffold for Epicardial Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biomaterials for cardiac cell transfer patches lack the unique structural characteristics of cardiac extracellular matrix and often fail to adhere firmly to the epicardial surface, limiting their effectiveness in delivering therapeutic cells to myocardial tissue.
Innovation Solution
A 3-dimensional bioscaffold made from isolated cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) that mimics the in vivo cardiac ECM, providing a myocardial origin and composition, allowing for firm adhesion to the heart without the need for glue or sutures and facilitating the delivery of seeded cells into myocardial tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If synthetic materials or decellularized heart valves are used for cardiac patches, then the patches can be manufactured, but they fail to adhere firmly to the epicardial surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using native cardiac extracellular matrix instead of synthetic materials or decellularized valves, matching the mechanical and biochemical properties of the target tissue to achieve firm adhesion without additional fixation methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite bioscaffold combining cardiac fibroblasts with extracellular matrix proteins (collagen, fibronectin, laminin) to produce a material that exhibits both structural integrity and strong adhesion properties to the epicardial surface
2Ease of manufacture
If patches are made from non-myocardial materials, then they can be manufactured, but they lack the unique structural characteristics of cardiac ECM
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs cardiac fibroblasts to spontaneously secrete and assemble extracellular matrix proteins into a 3-dimensional scaffold that naturally replicates cardiac ECM structure, eliminating the need for complex manufacturing processes while preserving native tissue characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses homogeneous cardiac fibroblast cells to produce a uniform extracellular matrix composition rich in cardiac-specific proteins, ensuring the bioscaffold closely mimics the native cardiac tissue environment throughout the entire patch structure
3Productivity
If traditional injection methods are used to deliver therapeutic cells, then cells can be transferred, but the heart's motion and instability prevent successful engraftment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-seeds therapeutic cells onto the extracellular matrix bioscaffold before implantation, allowing cells to attach and stabilize on the stable cardiac-specific matrix prior to facing the mechanical challenges of the beating heart, thereby improving engraftment reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cardiac extracellular matrix bioscaffold as an intermediary carrier between the therapeutic cells and the host myocardium, providing a stable platform that protects cells during implantation and facilitates their integration into the cardiac tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A bioscaffold made from an isolated cardiac fibroblast-derived 3-dimensional extracellular matrix (ECM) is disclosed. The bioscaffold can be used as an epicardial patch for the delivery of therapeutic cells into myocardial tissue. Methods of making the 3-dimensional extracellular matrix using cultured cardiac fibroblasts are also disclosed.