Despite many currently available therapeutics to treat heart failure, such as biomimetic scaffolds made of natural or synthetic polymers, their limited mechanical and biodegradable properties, as well as high potential for immunological rejection, are still in question. Direct injection of stem cells or catheter-based intracoronary procedures also reported only modest therapeutic benefits due to poor localized cell survival after injection or lack of supported elements for mature vasculature.
To improve bio-compatibility and bio-functionality, enhance angiogenesis and facilitate blood vessel maturation, we have been generating stem cell-derived bi-layer cell sheets to treat heart failure progression following myocardial infarction. We hope that the implantation of our unique, spatially oriented bi-layer cell sheet would support the retention of the implanted cells and help form mature vasculature, enhancing the therapeutic effects of the cell sheet technique on ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).
With an aim on clinical translation, we are applying the cell-derived bi-layer cell sheets in a preclinical large animal model of ischemic heart failure. Utilizing cells collected and differentiated in clinically translatable ways, we hope to bridge the gap between basic research and application in human patients for our bio-engineered tissue therapy.