Project R-15088

All-in-one plasma-assisted engineering of a superior patch for cardiac repair (SuperPatch) (Research)

Ischemic heart disease affects currently 13 million people in Europe and remains a leading cause of mortality. Approximately 14 % of patients with acute myocardial infarction develop heart failure within 5 years post-ischemic event, providing these patients a limited perspective on curative treatment. Heart tissue engineering through designing cell-seeded heart patches (HPs) is increasingly explored to restore myocardial function. Nonetheless, results remain suboptimal by lack of adequate mechanical support, vascularization, cardiomyocyte adhesion, contraction and/or alignment and electro-mechanical prematuration. Our project creates a jump on the state-of-the-art by launching the plasma-assisted development of an innovative HP encompassing 3 biomimetic layers with distinctive topographical and biochemical cues: 1) a contractile layer with integrated biodegradable and stretchable multi-electrode array, 2) a vascularization-promoting layer, and 3) a mechanical support layer. Cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblasts will be cultured on the corresponding layers under electro-mechanical stimulation to generate an all-in-one pre-vascularized, contractile and mechanically compatible HP. The conceived layers as the combined 3-layered HP will be iteratively evaluated in vitro and/or in vivo regarding the electromechanical synchronisation and neovascular integration. The high-risk/gain nature of the HP makes a spin-off company the most suitable valorization option as no major pharmaceutical companies have a preclinical pipeline in this field. Given the novel HP multifaceted aspects, an exhaustive knowledge builds up on biofabrication, plasma treatment and (co-)culturing and could lead to additional spill-over valorization. If successful, the superior HP may constitute a real breakthrough in the treatment of clinically significant myocardial tissue loss.

01 October 2024 - 30 September 2028