A Bioengineered Hydrogel System Enables Targeted and Sustained Intramyocardial Delivery of Neuregulin, Activating the Cardiomyocyte Cell Cycle and Enhancing Ventricular Function in a Murine Model of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Targeted and sustained delivery of NRG directly to the myocardial borderzone augments cardiomyocyte mitotic activity, decreases apoptosis, and greatly enhances left ventricular function in a model of ischemic cardiomyopathy. This novel approach to NRG administration avoids off-target exposure and represents a clinically translatable strategy in myocardial regenerative therapeutics.