Imagine a future where heart attacks don't have to mean permanent damage. That's the promise of a groundbreaking new drug-delivery patch developed by MIT engineers. This innovative patch could revolutionize how we treat heart attack victims, offering a chance to heal and regain lost cardiac function.
This isn't just a simple bandage; it's a sophisticated system designed to promote the regeneration of cardiac tissue after a heart attack. The patch, designed to be placed directly on the heart, is loaded with multiple drugs, each released at specific times, following a pre-programmed schedule.
Here's the key: When someone suffers a heart attack, the damaged heart tissue often doesn't repair itself effectively, leading to lasting heart function loss. The goal of this patch is to restore that function and help patients recover a stronger, more resilient heart. The researchers aimed to create a patch that could be applied during bypass surgery, delivering drugs over an extended period to encourage tissue healing.
The patch's clever design allows for the timed release of different drugs. It utilizes tiny capsules, like miniature coffee cups with lids, made from a polymer called PLGA. By adjusting the lid's molecular weight, the researchers can control how quickly the capsules degrade, precisely timing the release of their contents. This timed delivery is crucial because it synchronizes the therapy with the body's natural healing process.
The patch delivers a carefully orchestrated sequence of drugs:
- Days 1-3: Neuregulin-1, a growth factor that helps prevent cell death.
- Days 7-9: VEGF, a growth factor that promotes the formation of blood vessels around the heart.
- Days 12-14: GW788388, a small molecule drug that inhibits the formation of scar tissue.
This approach mimics the body's natural healing steps, delivering the right components at the right time. The researchers embed these drug-filled particles into a flexible hydrogel patch, similar to a contact lens, made from biocompatible polymers. The patch is then surgically implanted onto the heart.
The results are impressive. In rat studies, the patch significantly improved cardiac function and reduced damaged heart tissue by 50 percent. The patches eventually dissolve, leaving a thin layer that doesn't disrupt the heart's function.
But here's where it gets controversial... While neuregulin-1 and VEGF have been tested in clinical trials, GW788388 has only been explored in animal models. This raises the question: Could this patch be even more effective with different drug combinations?
What do you think? Would you be willing to try this patch if you were a heart attack victim? Do you think the potential benefits outweigh the risks? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Other authors of the paper include Elizabeth Calle, Binbin Ying, Behnaz Eshaghi, Linzixuan Zhang, Xin Yang, Stacey Qiaohui Lin, Jooli Han, Alanna Backx, Yuting Huang, Sevinj Mursalova, Chuhan Joyce Qi, and Yi Liu.
The researchers were supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Source:
Journal reference:
Wang, E. Y., et al. (2025). TIMED: Temporal intervention with microparticle encapsulation and delivery—A programmed release system for post-myocardial infarction therapy.Cell Biomaterials. doi.org/10.1016/j.celbio.2025.100249
