SDF-1 loaded dECM patch improves cardiac function in rats after myocardial ischemia

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Roadmap of SDF-dECM patch implantation. A schematic showing the process of implanting the SDF-dECM patch onto infarcted myocardium

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  Fig. 2. Physicochemical properties of the SDF-dECM patch. A H&E and DAPI staining of porcine myocardium (scale bars: 100 μm) and the SDF-dECM patch (scale bars: 50 μm), demonstrating the tissue architecture and cell distribution. B Co-culture of the SDF-dECM patch with rat H9c2 cardiomyocytes and rat BMMSCs, respectively. C Cell viability of rat H9c2 cells (left) and rat BMMSCs (right) after 24 h and 48 h of exposure to SDF-dECM extracts at various concentrations. N.S. indicates no significant difference. D SEM images showing the structural properties of the SDF-dECM patch. Scale bars: 250 μm (left), 50 μm (right). E GFP-expressing rat BMMSCs on the SDF-dECM patch were visualized under bright-field (left) and fluorescence microscopy (right) in the same field of view. Scale bars: 100 μm

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  Fig. 3. SDF-1 induced rat BMMSCs migration in vitro. A Immunofluorescence staining showing CXCR4 (red) expression in rat BMMSCs, with nuclei counterstained using DAPI (blue). Scale bar: 20 μm. B In vitro release profile of SDF-1 from SDF-dECM patches over time. Data points represent the concentration measured in the release medium at each time point (mean ± SEM, n = 3). Individual data points are shown for each independent sample. C Representative images showing rat BMMSCs migration in response to various concentrations of SDF-1. Scale bar: 100 μm. D Quantitative analysis of migrated rat BMMSCs across different SDF-1 concentrations. Statistical significance is denoted as *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ****p < 0.0001. E Migration of rat BMMSCs in the presence of a CXCR4 inhibitor, AMD3100, showing receptor-dependent migration. Scale bar: 100 μm. F Quantitative analysis of rat BMMSCs migration under different AMD3100 conditions. Statistical significance is denoted as *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ****p < 0.0001

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  Fig. 4. Immunofluorescence staining of BMMSCs markers in myocardium. A Representative immunofluorescence images of BMMSCs markers (CD44, green) and CXCR4 (red) along with nuclei counterstained using DAPI (blue), showing the localization of BMMSCs within the myocardium. B Quantitative analysis of CXCR4 and CD44 co-expressing cells. Bar graph shows the number of CXCR4+CD44+ cells. C Representative immunofluorescence images of BMMSCs markers (CD29, green) and CXCR4 (red) along with nuclei counterstained using DAPI (blue), showing the localization of BMMSCs within the myocardium. D Quantitative analysis of CXCR4 and CD29 co-expressing cells. Bar graph shows the number of CXCR4+CD29+ cells. E Representative immunofluorescence images of BMMSCs markers (CD90, green) and CXCR4 (red) along with nuclei counterstained using DAPI (blue), showing the localization of BMMSCs within the myocardium. F Quantitative analysis of CXCR4 and CD90 co-expressing cells. Bar graph shows the number of CXCR4+CD90+ cells. The patch is located in the upper right region, and the host myocardium is in the lower left region. The white dotted line indicates the boundary between them, while the cluster of BMMSCs on the…

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  Fig. 5. Vascular and apoptotic analysis in myocardium. A Representative immunofluorescence images showing CD31 (red)-positive endothelial cells along with DAPI-counterstained nuclei (blue) in myocardium, indicating blood vessel formation. Scale bar: 100 μm. B Quantification of CD31-positive endothelial cells (CD31+/DAPI ratio). Statistical significance: **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05 vs. control group. C TUNEL assay showing apoptotic cells (green, apoptotic cells) along with DAPI-counterstained nuclei (blue) in myocardium. Scale bar: 100 μm. D Quantification of apoptotic cardiomyocytes (TUNEL+/DAPI ratio). Significance levels: ****p < 0.0001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05 vs. Sham group

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  Fig. 6. Mechanical support of SDF-dECM patch on WS. A, B WS distribution in the left ventricle during diastole and systole with and without the SDF-dECM patch, showing how the patch mitigates WS. Regions of WS concentration are highlighted by black dashed lines. C, D Probability density distributions of WS in the left ventricle during diastole and systole, demonstrate the patch’s effect on reducing WS variability. E Maximum WS values in the left ventricle during diastole and systole under different conditions, showing the mechanical support effect of the SDF-dECM patch

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  Fig. 7. Echocardiographic and histological analysis. A Representative echocardiographic images at 2 and 4 weeks post-MI to track heart function. B Quantitative analysis of echocardiographic parameters at 2 and 4 weeks indicating changes in heart function. C H&E and Masson Trichrome staining of myocardial sections to assess tissue structure and fibrosis. Scale bar: 1 mm. D Quantitative assessment of infarction size across experimental groups. Statistical significance is denoted as *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, and ****p < 0.0001