Recent advances in implantable hydrogels for treating heart failure

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is an irreversible disease characterized by the reducing capacity of blood supply as a consequence of cardiomyocyte death and deteriorated fibrosis. There is a lack of effective treatment for heart failure other than a heart transplant, and thus significant resources have been dedicated to developing functional materials for cardiac tissue engineering. Implanting hydrogels in the myocardium near the myocardial infarction area can preserve cardiac function and slow the remodeling that leads to HF by providing mechanical support to the ventricular wall. Nevertheless, few reviews have been published for this promising HF treatment. Herein, we briefly discuss the classification and existing conventional treatments for HF and provide an overview of recent functional hydrogels designed for cardiac repair after myocardial infarction, including polymeric hydrogels, polymer-cell complex hydrogels, polymer-cytokine complex hydrogels, and polymer-protein complex hydrogels. Key challenges and future directions for advanced hydrogels have also been discussed.