Decellularized Regenerative Device Supports Cardiac Tissues

A novel epicardial patch supports the atria and the ventricular walls of hearts that have been thinned or damaged as a result of myocardial infarct (MI).

The CorMatrix (Rosewell, GA, USA) Cor PATCH is designed to provide host cellular ingrowth and robust angiogenesis in support of adult epicardial structures post MI. It can also be used to treat sequelae secondary to MI that result in a thinning of the left or right ventricular walls, aneurysm formation, or for any other areas requiring a patch. The Cor PATCH is made of a multi-laminate sheet of decellularized lyophilized extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa, which serves as a bioscaffold for vascular ingrowth from adjacent tissues.

The ECM provides a very specific micro-environment. Cells recognize collagen fiber orientation, types of structural proteins, pore size, sequestered paracrine factors, and many other components of the matrix that are specific for each tissue. Progenitor cells and nutrients are delivered by the body to the matrix, which then differentiate into tissue-specific cells and structures. The ECM decellularized material is then naturally degraded and resorbed, gradually replaced by the patient’s own cells, leaving behind the remodeled functional tissue.

“We have a unique opportunity to enhance the repair and recovery of heart muscle after injury using the Cor PATCH technology. This could be a game changer for patients undergoing surgical procedures aimed to increase the blood supply to damaged areas of their heart,” said professor of cardiac surgery Paul Fedak, MD, of the University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada). “My translational research provides an important foundation of data to support the clinical use of this technology as an epicardial patch during coronary bypass surgery. We can now directly target damaged muscle in addition to bypassing blocked vessels.”

The ECM is a collection of extracellular molecules that provides structural and biochemical support to the surrounding cells. It includes the interstitial matrix, composed of polysaccharide gels and fibrous proteins, and the basement membrane, which are sheet-like depositions on which various epithelial cells rest. Each type of connective tissue in animals has a different ECM; collagen fibers and bone mineral comprise the ECM of bone tissue; reticular fibers and ground substance comprise the ECM of loose connective tissue; and blood plasma is the ECM of blood.

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