Cardiac extracellular matrix-fibrin hybrid scaffolds with tunable properties for cardiovascular tissue engineering.

摘要: Abstract Solubilized cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) is being developed as an injectable therapeutic that offers promise for promoting repair. However, the ECM alone forms a hydrogel very soft compared to native myocardium. As both stiffness and composition of are important in regulating cell behavior can have complex synergistic effects, we sought develop ECM-based scaffold with tunable biochemical mechanical properties. We used solubilized rat from two developmental stages (neonatal, adult) combined fibrin hydrogels were cross-linked transglutaminase. show was retained within gels Young’s modulus could be tuned span range developing mature heart. C-kit+ cardiovascular progenitor cells pediatric patients congenital heart defects seeded into hybrid gels. Both elastic scaffolds impacted expression endothelial smooth muscle genes. Furthermore, demonstrate injectable, thus potential minimally invasive therapies. ECM–fibrin offer new opportunities exploiting effects properties directing tissue engineering.