title: Gold nanoparticle-decellularized matrix hybrids for cardiac tissue engineering.
abstract: Decellularized matrices are valuable scaffolds for engineering functional cardiac patches for treating myocardial infarction. However, the lack of quick and efficient electrical coupling between adjacent cells may jeopardize the success of the treatment. To address this issue, we have deposited gold nanoparticles on fibrous decellularized omental matrices and investigated their morphology, conductivity, and degradation. We have shown that cardiac cells engineered within the hybrid scaffolds exhibited elongated and aligned morphology, massive striation, and organized connexin 43 electrical coupling proteins. Finally, we have shown that the hybrid patches demonstrated superior function as compared to pristine patches, including a stronger contraction force, lower excitation threshold, and faster calcium transients.
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Science, ‡The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, and §Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shevach
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fleischer
authors.forename: Assaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dvir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000032:analysis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D006046:Gold
keywords: Cardiac tissue engineering; decellularized matrix; gold nanoparticles; omentum; scaffold