A new programmable patch attached to the heart after heart attack to promote tissue healing

Amazing stuff! To attach a patch to the heart!

"MIT engineers have developed a flexible drug-delivery patch that can be placed on the heart after a heart attack to help promote healing and regeneration of cardiac tissue.

The new patch is designed to carry several different drugs that can be released at different times, on a pre-programmed schedule. In a study of rats, the researchers showed that this treatment reduced the amount of damaged heart tissue by 50 percent and significantly improved cardiac function. ..."

From the highlights and abstract:

"Highlights

• Programmable multi-phasic release via microparticles in a hydrogel patch

• Strong mechanics, biocompatibility, and storage stability for clinical use

• TIMED improves survival, restores function, and reduces injury in vitro and in vivo

•Modular, localized sequential therapy adaptable to broad clinical contexts

Summary

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major global health challenge. Surgical interventions address the acute phase but often fail to support long-term recovery. Sequential post-operative drug delivery offers promise but is constrained by release methods.

Here, we developed TIMED (temporal intervention with microparticle encapsulation and delivery), a polymeric device enabling programmed sequential release through spatially patterned microparticles in a tough hydrogel matrix. TIMED demonstrated excellent mechanical performance and biocompatibility for long-term implantation and retained strong stability after storage.

A sequential dosing regimen aligned with the innate post-MI response was first validated in hiPSC-derived cardiac tissues, where it enhanced cell viability and vascularization while reducing collagen deposition.

In vivo, delivery via the TIMED improved survival, reduced injury markers and infarct size, and enhanced cardiac output, outperforming equivalent i.v. dosing. This work establishes a first-of-its-kind cardiac implantable polymeric platform with modular sequential release and provides a framework for programmed multi-dosing across diverse applications."

A new patch could help to heal the heart | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology "MIT engineers developed a programmable drug-delivery patch that can promote tissue healing and blood vessel regrowth following a heart attack."

TIMED: Temporal intervention with microparticle encapsulation and delivery—A programmed release system for post-myocardial infarction therapy (open access)

Graphical abstract