Injectable photocurable Janus hydrogel delivering hiPSC cardiomyocyte-derived exosome for post–heart surgery adhesion reduction

Abstract

Postsurgical pericardial adhesions pose increased risks of sequelae, prolonged reoperation time, and reduced visibility in the surgical field. Here, we introduce an injectable Janus hydrogel, which exhibits asymmetric adhesiveness properties after photocrosslinking, sustained delivering induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocyte exosomes (iCM-EXOs) for post–heart surgery adhesion reduction. Our findings reveal that iCM-EXOs effectively attenuate oxidative stress in hydrogen peroxide–treated primary cardiomyocytes by inhibiting the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2. Notably, in rat cardiac postsurgery models, the Janus hydrogels loaded with iCM-EXOs demonstrate dual functionality, acting as antioxidants and antipericardial adhesion agents. These hydrogels effectively protect iCM-EXOs from GATA6+ cavity macrophage clearance by inhibiting the recruitment of macrophages from the thoracic cavity. These results highlight the promising potential of iCM-EXO–laden Janus hydrogels for clinical safety and efficacy validation in trials involving heart surgery patients, with the ultimate goal of routine administration during open-heart surgeries.