title: An injectable capillary-like microstructured alginate hydrogel improves left ventricular function after myocardial infarction in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A new post-myocardial infarction (MI) therapy is injection of high-water-content polymeric biomaterial gels (hydrogels) into damaged myocardium to modulate cardiac negative remodeling and preserve heart function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the therapeutic potential of a novel gelatinized alginate hydrogel with a unique microstructure of uniform capillary-like channels (termed Capgel). Shortly (48h) after induced anterior MI, Sprague Dawley rats received intramyocardial injection of Capgel directly into the antero-septal wall at the infarct border zone (n=12) or no injection (n=10, controls). Echocardiograms were performed at 48h (week 0) and 4weeks (week 4) to evaluate left ventricular function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Echocardiograms showed 27% improvement of left ventricular systolic function over time with gel injection: fractional shortening increased from 26±3% at week 0 to 33±2% at week 4 (p=0.001). Capgel was present at the injection site after 4weeks, but was minimal at 8weeks. The remaining gel was heavily populated by CD68(+) macrophages with CD206(+) clusters and blood vessels. An in vitro experiment was performed to assess Angiotensin-(1-7) released from Capgel. Angiotensin-(1-7) was released from the Capgel in a sustained manner for 90days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of Capgel, a degradable, bioactive hydrogel composed of gelatinized capillary-alginate gel, appears safe for intramyocardial injection, is associated with improved left ventricular function after MI in rats, and may provide a long-term supply of Angiotensin-(1-7).
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Domenico G Della
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Willenberg
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Yanfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Chelsey S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Leonardo F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Tianyao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Prashant J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ruchaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Prateek S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Wate
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Handberg
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cogle
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Batich
authors.affiliation: Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Barry J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: carl.pepine@medicine.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Pepine
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005780:Gelatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000494:pharmacology; D015552:Injections, Intralesional / Q000379:methods; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D005780:Gelatin; D000803:Angiotensin I; C118790:angiotensin I (1-7)
keywords: Capillary-like channels; Gelatinized alginate hydrogel; Myocardial infarction