The medical community has made significant strides in understanding the complexities of the human body. Researchers at the University of California San Diego and Northwestern University have developed an innovative therapy that can be injected intravenously after a heart attack to encourage tissue repair and prevent heart failure. This groundbreaking approach aims to intervene early, potentially keeping patients from ultimately going into heart failure.

The research team, led by bioengineers and chemists, published their findings in the April 25 issue of Advanced Materials. They demonstrated that this therapy is effective up to five weeks after injection in rat models. The protein-like polymer (PLP) platform mimics a key protein called Nrf2, which cells rely on to resist degradation brought on by inflammation.

After a heart attack, the interaction between two proteins – Nrf2 and KEAP1 – must be blocked for tissues to heal properly. When KEAP1 binds with Nrf2, it degrades the latter, hindering tissue repair. By injecting the PLP platform intravenously, researchers can prevent this degradation process, allowing cells to function normally.

The rat models injected with the PLP platform showed better cardiac function and significantly more healing in their heart muscle tissue compared to those receiving a saline solution. Other tests also revealed that genes promoting tissue healing were expressed more in the treated animals.

Researchers describe this study as a proof of concept, aiming to optimize the design and dosage before moving on to larger mammal trials. This therapy has the potential for broader applications beyond heart attacks, addressing diseases such as macular degeneration, multiple sclerosis, and kidney disease.

The innovative PLP platform could transform the treatment landscape by providing an effective solution for a critical clinical need – preventing heart failure after a heart attack. This breakthrough demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary research in tackling complex medical challenges.

Sources:

* Gianneschi, N., et al. (2023). A protein-like polymer platform to intervene with KEAP1-Nrf2 interactions promotes cardiac repair and function in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Advanced Materials, 35(14), e2205550.
* National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) research grants 2R01HL139001, R00 CA248715.

The breakthrough by researchers at the University of Houston has transformed ceramics from fragile and brittle materials into tough, flexible structures. By blending ancient design with modern materials science, they have created a new class of ceramic structures that can bend under pressure without breaking.

Traditionally, ceramics were known for their inability to withstand stress, making them unsuitable for high-impact or adaptive applications. However, this limitation may soon change as the UH researchers have shown that origami-inspired shapes with a soft polymer coating can transform fragile ceramic materials into resilient and adaptable structures.

Led by Maksud Rahman, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and Md Shajedul Hoque Thakur, postdoctoral fellow, the team has successfully 3D printed ceramic structures based on the Miura-ori origami pattern. This innovative approach allowed them to create materials that can handle stress in ways ordinary ceramics cannot.

The coated structures flexed and recovered when compressed in different directions, while their uncoated counterparts cracked or broke. The researchers tested these structures under both static and cyclic compression, with computer simulations backing up their experiments. The results consistently showed greater toughness in the coated versions, especially in directions where the original ceramic was weakest.

“This work demonstrates how folding patterns can unlock new functionalities in even the most fragile materials,” said Rahman. “Origami is more than an art – it’s a powerful design tool that can reshape how we approach challenges in both biomedical and engineering fields.”

The potential applications for this technology are vast, ranging from medical prosthetics to impact-resistant components in aerospace and robotics. With their newfound ability to create lightweight yet tough materials, researchers may soon revolutionize various industries and transform ceramics into versatile and reliable materials for future innovations.

The world of tissue engineering has just taken a significant leap forward with the advent of Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH) 3D bioprinting. This innovative technique, developed by Carnegie Mellon’s Feinberg lab, allows for the printing of soft living cells and tissues with unprecedented structural resolution and fidelity. The result is a microphysiologic system entirely made out of collagen, cells, and other proteins – a first-of-its-kind achievement that expands the capabilities of researchers to study disease and build tissues for therapy.

Traditionally, tiny models of human tissue have been made using synthetic materials like silicone rubber or plastics, but these cannot fully recreate normal biology. With FRESH bioprinting, researchers can now create microfluidic systems in a Petri dish entirely out of collagen, cells, and other proteins – a major breakthrough that will revolutionize the field.

“We’re hoping to better understand what we need to print,” said Adam Feinberg, a professor of biomedical engineering and materials science & engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. “Ultimately, we want the tissue to better mimic the disease of interest or ultimately, have the right function, so when we implant it in the body as a therapy, it’ll do exactly what we want.”

The implications of this technology are vast, with potential applications in treating Type 1 diabetes and other diseases. FluidForm Bio, a Carnegie Mellon University spinout company, has already demonstrated that they can cure Type 1 diabetes in animal models using this technology, and plans to start clinical trials in human patients soon.

As Feinberg emphasized, “The work we’re doing today is taking this advanced fabrication capability and combining it with computational modeling and machine learning… We see this as a base platform for building more complex and vascularized tissue systems.”

With FRESH bioprinting, the possibilities are endless. This technology has the potential to change the face of medicine and improve countless lives. As researchers continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, one thing is certain – we will witness some incredible breakthroughs in the years to come.