Whether intra-myocardial delivery of hydrogel can prevent post-infarct heart failure (HF) in a long follow-up period, especially after it is degraded, remains unclear. In this study, Dex-PCL-HEMA/PNIPAAm (DPHP) hydrogel was delivered into peri-infarct myocardium of rat when coronary artery was ligated, while PBS was employed as control. Twelve weeks later, compared with control, left ventricle remodeling was attenuated and cardiac function was preserved; serum brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac aldosterone, and pulmonary congestion were suppressed in hydrogel group. Pro-fibrogenic mRNA increased in infarct area while decreased in remote zone, as well as hypertrophic mRNA. These data proves DPHP hydrogel suppresses ventricular remodeling and HF by promoting fibrotic healing in infarct area and inhibiting reactive fibrosis and hypertrophy in remote zone. Timely intra-myocardial hydrogel implantation is an effective strategy to inhibit post-infarct cardiac remodeling and have a long-term beneficial effect even after it has been biodegraded.
Keywords: Biodegradable hydrogel; Heart failure; Myocardial infarction; Ventricular remodeling.