Injectable ECM Scaffolds for Cardiac Repair.

Injectable biomaterials have been developed as potential minimally invasive therapies for treating myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure. Christman et al. first showed that the injection of a biomaterial alone into rat myocardium can improve cardiac function after MI. More recently, hydrogel forms of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) materials have shown substantial promise. Here, we present the methods for fabricating an injectable cardiac-specific ECM biomaterial with demonstrated positive outcomes in small and large animal models for cardiac repair as well as initial safety in a Phase I clinical trial. This chapter also covers the methods for the injection of a biomaterial into rat myocardium using a surgical approach through the diaphragm. Although the methods shown here are for injection of an acellular biomaterial, cells or other therapeutics could also be added to the injection for testing other regenerative medicine strategies.