Researchers are here working on an injectable gel scaffold material that appears to improve regeneration of heart damage:<\/p>\n
[Researchers have] developed a protein-rich gel that appears to help repair cardiac muscle in a pig model<\/a> of myocardial infarction<\/a>. The researchers delivered the hydrogel<\/a> via a catheter directly into the damaged regions of the porcine heart, and showed that the product promoted cellular regeneration and improved cardiac function after a heart attack. Compared to placebo<\/a>-treated animals, the pigs that received a hydrogel injection displayed a 30% increase in heart volume, a 20% improvement in heart wall movement and a 10% reduction in the amount of scar tissue scar three months out from their heart attacks.<\/p>\n
[The researchers] developed their hydrogel by stripping muscle cells from pig hearts, leaving behind a network of proteins that naturally self-assembles into a porous and fibrous scaffold upon injection into heart tissue. They previously tested its safety and efficacy in rats, where they found increased cardiac function and no toxicity or cross-species reactivity.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Link: http:\/\/blogs.nature.com\/spoonful\/2013\/02\/injectable-gel-repairs-damage-after-heart-attack-in-pigs.html<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Source:
http:\/\/www.fightaging.org\/archives\/2013\/02\/injectable-scaffold-gel-to-spur-heart-regeneration.php<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Researchers are here working on an injectable gel scaffold material that appears to improve regeneration of heart damage: [Researchers have] developed a protein-rich gel that appears to help repair cardiac muscle in a pig model of myocardial infarction. The researchers … Continue reading