by Dr Jay Lu

Cardiac tissue engineering has reached new heights with the development of an intrapericardial injectable hydrogel patch that enables mechanical-electrical coupling with infarcted myocardium. This innovative approach, pioneered by Yu et al., has shown remarkable efficacy in preventing ventricular fibrosis and remodeling, promoting neovascularization, and restoring electrical propagation and synchronized pulsation. To gain deeper insights into cardiac electrophysiology effect of this injectable hydrogel patch, advanced cardiac mapping systems were employed, including the electrical mapping system and the optical mapping system.

Electrical Mapping System:

The study utilized an advanced electrical mapping system equipped with a multi-electrode array (64-channel) to acquire and plot epicardial isochronal activation maps. By measuring electrical signals from multiple points across the heart, this system provides a comprehensive visualization of the activation sequence during cardiac depolarization. The acquired data were then processed using EMapScope software, which generated activation maps and computed conduction velocity. These insights were instrumental in analyzing the restoration of electrical propagation and synchronized pulsation, vital for proper heart function.

Optical Mapping System:

In addition to electrical mapping, the study employed an optical mapping system to measure transmembrane potential and calcium transient in cardiac tissue. The optical mapping system leverages specialized dyes that emit fluorescent signals when bound to specific cellular components, enabling researchers to monitor the activity of individual cells and their synchronized behavior in real-time.

Using the OMapScope software, the optical mapping system provided detailed measurements of various cardiac parameters, including activation time, conduction velocity, rise time, dispersion, amplitude, action potential duration (APD), and calcium transient duration (CTD). These parameters play a crucial role in understanding the electrical and contractile properties of cardiac tissue. For example, by quantifying parameters such as APD and CTD, researchers can assess the repolarization and calcium handling properties of cardiac tissue, providing valuable insights into the health and synchronization of the myocardium.

Conclusion:

The combination of injectable MEHP and cell therapy, along with enhanced electrical and optical mapping systems, holds promise for cardiac tissue engineering. The MEHP prevented fibrosis, promoted neovascularization, and restored electrical propagation. These two mapping systems enabled detailed analysis of electrical activity and cellular dynamics, contributing to a better understanding of cardiac electrophysiology and potential therapeutic interventions. These advancements have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of heart diseases and improve patient outcomes.

Reference:

Yu, S., et al. (2022). Injectable MEHP Combined with Cell Therapy Effectively Prevents Ventricular Fibrosis and Remodeling, Promotes Neovascularization & Restores Electrical Propagation.