New research shows that injection of new hydrogel can repair and prevent myocardial damage after heart attack

In a new study, researchers from the National University of Galway in Ireland, the University of Valladolid in Spain and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have developed an injectable hydrogel that can help repair And prevent further damage to the heart muscle after a heart attack.

Myocardial infarction or heart disease is the main cause of death because of irreversible damage to the heart muscle (heart tissue) during a heart attack.

The co-corresponding author of the paper, Professor Abhay Pandit of the National Galway University, explained, “This research project involves the development and testing of a hydrogel based on elastin, which is derived from naturally occurring in the human body.

In the first ever preclinical study, the therapeutic effect of this hydrogel multiple injections into the heart tissue was evaluated, proving its effectiveness in remodeling the heart tissue after a heart attack.

These researchers were able to prove that if the hydrogel they developed was injected into the heart muscle shortly after a heart attack, it could reduce fibrosis (scar tissue formed in the heart) and increase the formation of new blood vessels in the area.

Professor Pandi added, “This research project demonstrates that a unique biomaterial-only system can induce positive healing effects in heart tissue after a heart attack.

Professor Mark Da Costa, a cardiothoracic surgeon from the University of Valladolid and co-corresponding author of the paper, said, “In this study, we used a model to specifically observe an increase in incidence and usually not treated until the end of the acute phase.

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