Adverse cardiac remodeling and dysfunction after
myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with (BioLineRx, BL-1040 myocardial implant) excessive damage to the extracellular matrix.
Biomaterials, such as the in situ-forming
alginate hydrogel, provide temporary support and attenuate these processes. Here, we tested the effects of decorating
alginate biomaterial with cell adhesion
peptides, containing the sequences RGD and
YIGSR, or a non-specific
peptide (RGE), in terms of therapeutic outcome soon after MI. The
biomaterial (i.e., both unmodified and
peptide-modified
alginate) solutions retained the ability to flow after cross-linking with
calcium ions, and could be injected into 7-day
infarcts, where they underwent phase transition into
hydrogels. Serial echocardiography studies performed before and 60 days
after treatment showed that
alginate modification with the
peptides reduced the therapeutical effects of the
hydrogel, as revealed by the extent of
scar thickness, left ventricle dilatation and function. Histology and immunohistochemistry revealed no significant differences in blood vessel density,
scar thickness, myofibroblast or macrophage infiltration or cell proliferation between the experimental groups BioLineRx BL-1040 myocardial implant. Our studies thus reveal that the chemical and physical traits of the
biomaterial can affect its therapeutical efficacy in attenuating
left ventricle remodeling and function, post-MI.