Why the study?
The study evaluated whether delivering an AAV encoding VEGF from an elastic epicardial patch provides benefit beyond a patch alone after myocardial infarction.
Does a biodegradable elastomeric scaffold loaded with AAV encoding VEGF improve cardiac function and remodeling in a rat infarction model?
Does a biodegradable elastomeric scaffold loaded with AAV encoding VEGF improve cardiac function and remodeling in a rat infarction model?
Combining a mechanical patch with controlled release of AAV-VEGF improved cardiac function and angiogenesis in a rat model of myocardial infarction.
Ischemic heart disease morbidity and mortality ensue as the ventricle remodels, and cardiac function is lost following myocardial infarction. Previous studies have shown that applying a biodegradable, elastic epicardial patch onto the ischemic cardiac wall preserves the cardiac function and alters the remodeling process. In this report, the capacity to deliver a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) encoding human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was evaluated to determine if it would provide benefit beyond a patch alone. Coaxial electrospinning of a poly(ether ester urethane) urea generated microfibrous patches with fibers loaded in their core with VEGF-AAV in poly(ethylene oxide) or vehicle alone. In a rat infarction model, epicardial patches were placed 3 days post-infarction. Over an 8 week period following the intervention, end-diastolic area was lower and ejection fraction greater in the patch-VEGF group compared with the control patch and sham surgery groups. There was also a greater number of α-SMA-positive cells, blood vessels, and positive immunostaining for VEGF in the patch-VEGF group compared with groups having patches lacking VEGF. The approach of combining mechanical (patch) and biofunctional (controlled release angiogenic therapy) support through a scaffold-based gene vector transfer approach may be an effective option for dealing with the adverse ventricular wall remodeling that leads to end-stage cardiomyopathy.
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Matsumura et al. (2025) studied this question.
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