FIRB 2010 “Futuro in Ricerca” Bioartificial materials and biomimetic scaffolds for a stem cells-based therapy for myocardial regeneration
Project objectives
The project aims at developing bioactive scaffolds populated by cardiac progenitor cells for the regeneration of infarcted myocardial tissue. Firstly, scaffolds are based on biomimetic materials containing bioactive tissue-specific molecules that exercise the same biochemical stimuli as the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). Secondly, scaffolds are designed with architecture that ensures the proper supply of nutrients and oxygen to the cells to improve blood circulation and induce appropriate mechanical stimuli in vivo (related to shear stresses mediated by topology and predicted using computational fluid dynamics models) that are able to influence orientation and cellular distribution.
Progress in stem cells biology and the demonstration of the presence of progenitor cells in adult heart tissue, has laid the foundations for the development of new therapeutic strategies aimed at myocardial regeneration.
The formation of tissue is guaranteed by a dynamic interaction between the cells and their microenvironment. In vivo, stem cells are combined in a specialized microenvironment (niche), which regulates their survival, proliferation and differentiation. Within the niches, stem cells interact with support cells and the soluble and insoluble components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Cardiac homeostasis mechanism knowledge offers the possibility to enhance this natural process by promoting myocardium regeneration.
The primary objective of the project is the development of biomimetic materials, based on a mixture of synthetic and natural polymers that are able to provide the same stimuli as biochemical cardiac ECM so they are able to affect cell behavior. To this purpose, in vitro studies will be carried out to assess the interaction between the cardiac primitive cells and two types of biomatrix as a model for normal and pathological myocardial tissue ECM. These cells are produced respectively from the in vitro culture of isolated cardiac fibroblasts from a healthy and pathological adult human heart.
Start/End date
March 8, 2012 - March 7, 2015
Principal Investigator
Dr. Pamela Mozetic
Host Institution
Politecnico di Torino - Italy
Other Institutions involved
Università di Napoli “Federico II” - Italy
Source of funding
MIUR- Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca.