MXene-Incorporated Conductive Hydrogel Simulating Myocardial Microenvironment for Cardiac Repair and Functional Recovery

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, necessitating advanced therapeutic strategies to address the resulting electrical disconnection and pathological remodeling. This study developed a conductive hydrogel by covalently cross-linking silk fibroin and hyaluronic acid, integrating MXene nanosheets to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM). Results demonstrated that the incorporation of MXene significantly enhanced the hydrogel's conductivity, with SH-M5 exhibiting the highest conductivity of 0.32 S/m. The SH-M5 hydrogel effectively improved electrical signal transmission and enhanced the recovery of the left ventricular function in myocardial infarction. These findings underscore the transformative role of MXene in enhancing the functional properties of hydrogels for myocardial repair. The conductive hydrogel demonstrated a unique capacity to integrate mechanical reinforcement, electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility, presenting a promising platform for treating myocardial infarction and advancing regenerative medicine.