title: A nanopatterned cell-seeded cardiac patch prevents electro-uncoupling and improves the therapeutic efficacy of cardiac repair.
abstract: The heart is an extremely sophisticated organ with nanoscale anisotropic structure, contractility and electro-conductivity; however, few studies have addressed the influence of cardiac anisotropy on cell transplantation for myocardial repair. Here, we hypothesized that a graft's anisotropy of myofiber orientation determines the mechano-electrical characteristics and the therapeutic efficacy. We developed aligned- and random-orientated nanofibrous electrospun patches (aEP and rEP, respectively) with or without seeding of cardiomyocytes (CMs) and endothelial cells (ECs) to test this hypothesis. Atomic force microscopy showed a better beating frequency and amplitude of CMs when cultured on aEP than that from cells cultured on rEP. For the in vivo test, a total of 66 rats were divided into six groups: sham, myocardial infarction (MI), MI + aEP, MI + rEP, MI + CM-EC/aEP and MI + CM-EC/rEP (n ≥ 10 for each group). Implantation of aEP or rEP provided mechanical support and thus retarded functional aggravation at 56 days after MI. Importantly, CM-EC/aEP implantation further improved therapeutic outcomes, while cardiac deterioration occurred on the CM-EC/rEP group. Similar results were shown by hemodynamic and infarct size examination. Another independent in vivo study was performed and electrocardiography and optical mapping demonstrated that there were more ectopic activities and defective electro-coupling after CM-EC/rEP implantation, which worsened cardiac functions. Together these results provide comprehensive functional characterizations and demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of a nanopatterned anisotropic cardiac patch. Importantly, the study confirms the significance of cardiac anisotropy recapitulation in myocardial tissue engineering, which is valuable for the future development of translational nanomedicine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan and Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan and Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University & Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan and Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University & Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Su-Ting
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sheng-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jung-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine and Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan and Institute of Basic Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hans I-Chen
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Harn
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University & Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Chuang
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Laio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Long
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine and Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan and Institute of Basic Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Jer
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University & Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kung-Chao
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fong-Chin
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Erika I H
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sho-Tone
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University & Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jyh-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. phsieh5@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Allan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Teng
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan and Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan and Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University & Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan and Institute of Basic Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan and Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. phsieh5@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Patrick C H
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hsieh