Galunisertib-Loaded Gelatin Methacryloyl Hydrogel Microneedle Patch for Cardiac Repair after Myocardial Infarction

N6-Methyladenosine-mediated phase separation suppresses NOTCH1 expression and promotes mitochondrial fission in diabetic cardiac fibrosis

BACKGROUND

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of messenger RNA (mRNA) is crucial for liquid-liquid phase separation in mammals. Increasing evidence indicates that liquid-liquid phase separation in proteins and RNAs affects diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the molecular mechanism by which m6A-mediated phase separation regulates diabetic cardiac fibrosis remains elusive.

METHODS

Leptin receptor-deficient mice (db/db), cardiac fibroblast-specific Notch1 conditional knockout (POSTN-Cre × Notch1flox/flox) mice, and Cre mice were used to induce diabetic cardiac fibrosis. Adeno-associated virus 9 carrying cardiac fibroblast-specific periostin (Postn) promoter-driven small hairpin RNA targeting Alkbh5, Ythdf2, or Notch1, and the phase separation inhibitor 1,6-hexanediol were administered to investigate their roles in diabetic cardiac fibrosis. Histological and biochemical analyses were performed to determine how Alkbh5 and Ythdf2 regulate Notch1 expression in diabetic cardiac fibrosis. NOTCH1 was reconstituted in ALKBH5- and YTHDF2-deficient cardiac fibroblasts and mouse hearts to study its effects on mitochondrial fission and diabetic cardiac fibrosis. Heart tissue samples from patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy were used to validate our findings.

RESULTS

In mice with diabetic cardiac fibrosis, decreased Notch1 expression was accompanied by high m6A mRNA levels and mitochondrial fission. Fibroblast-specific deletion of Notch1 enhanced mitochondrial fission and cardiac fibroblast proliferation and induced diabetic cardiac fibrosis in mice. Notch1 downregulation was associated with Alkbh5-mediated m6A demethylation in the 3'UTR of Notch1 mRNA and elevated m6A mRNA levels. These elevated m6A levels in Notch1 mRNA markedly enhanced YTHDF2 phase separation, increased the recognition of m6A residues in Notch1 mRNA by YTHDF2, and induced Notch1 degradation. Conversely, epitranscriptomic downregulation rescues Notch1 expression, resulting in the opposite effects. Human heart tissues from patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy were used to validate the findings in mice with diabetic cardiac fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a novel epitranscriptomic mechanism by which m6A-mediated phase separation suppresses Notch1 expression, thereby promoting mitochondrial fission in diabetic cardiac fibrosis. Our findings provide new insights for the development of novel treatment approaches for patients with diabetic cardiac fibrosis.

Intraoperative Cavity Local Delivery System with NETs-Specific Drug Release for Post-Breast Cancer Surgery Recurrence Correction

Postoperative breast cancer recurrence is tricky due to the limited therapeutic options. Transforming growth factors-β (TGF-β) is vital in promoting postoperative tumor recurrence. However, conventional blocking strategies fail to satisfy both bio-safety and sufficient relapse correction. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are essential for the spatiotemporal dynamics of TGF-β at tumor-resection sites, whose unique mechanism for local TGF-β amplification could remarkably increase the risk of relapse after surgery. Herein, the principle of NETs formation is ingeniously utilized to construct a surgical residual cavity hydrogel that mimics NETs formation. The hydrogel is prepared based on the electrostatic interaction between histidine (His) and sodium alginate (Alg). Then, arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) protein is released during NETs formation. Simultaneously, the electrical property of His in hydrogel changes automatically, which further lead to promising localized release of anti-TGF-β. The hydrogel system can realize specific and selective drug release at targeted NETs site over a prolonged period while exhibiting excellent biocompatibility. Superior breast cancer recurrence inhibition is achieved by suppressing TGF-β and related indicators, impeding epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression, and rectifying the locally exacerbated immunosuppressive environment within NETs. The novel NETs local microenvironment drug release functional hydrogel will provide inspiration for postoperative recurrence correction strategies.

Cardiac tissue engineering: an emerging approach to the treatment of heart failure

Heart failure is a major health problem in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. It is a progressive disease that becomes more severe over time and can be caused by a variety of factors, including heart attack, cardiomyopathy and heart valve disease. There are various methods to cure this disease, which has many complications and risks. The advancement of knowledge and technology has proposed new methods for many diseases. One of the promising new treatments for heart failure is tissue engineering. Tissue engineering is a field of research that aims to create living tissues and organs to replace damaged or diseased tissue. The goal of tissue engineering in heart failure is to improve cardiac function and reduce the need for heart transplantation. This can be done using the three important principles of cells, biomaterials and signals to improve function or replace heart tissue. The techniques for using cells and biomaterials such as electrospinning, hydrogel synthesis, decellularization, etc. are diverse. Treating heart failure through tissue engineering is still under development and research, but it is hoped that there will be no transplants or invasive surgeries in the near future. In this study, based on the most important research in recent years, we will examine the power of tissue engineering in the treatment of heart failure.

Nanoparticle-Patch System for Localized, Effective, and Sustained miRNA Administration into Infarcted Myocardium to Alleviate Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Timely blood reperfusion after myocardial infarction (MI) paradoxically triggers ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/RI), which currently has not been conquered by clinical treatments. Among innovative repair strategies for myocardial I/RI, microRNAs (miRNAs) are expected as genetic tools to rescue damaged myocardium. Our previous study identified that miR-30d can provide protection against myocardial apoptosis and fibrosis to alleviate myocardial injury. Although common methods such as liposomes and viral vectors have been used for miRNA transfection, their therapeutic efficiencies have struggled with inefficient in vivo delivery, susceptible inactivation, and immunogenicity. Here, we establish a nanoparticle-patch system for miR-30d delivery in a murine myocardial I/RI model, which contains ZIF-8 nanoparticles and a conductive microneedle patch. Loaded with miR-30d, ZIF-8 nanoparticles leveraging the proton sponge effect enable miR-30d to escape the endocytic pathway, thus avoiding premature degradation in lysosomes. Meanwhile, the conductive microneedle patch offers a distinct advantage by intramyocardial administration for localized, effective, and sustained miR-30d delivery, and it simultaneously releases Au nanoparticles to reconstruct electrical impulses within the infarcted myocardium. Consequently, the nanoparticle-patch system supports the consistent and robust expression of miR-30d in cardiomyocytes. Results from echocardiography and electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed improved heart functions and standard ECG wave patterns in myocardial I/RI mice after implantation of a nanoparticle-patch system for 3 and 6 weeks. In summary, our work incorporated conductive microneedle patch and miR-30d nanodelivery systems to synergistically transcend the limitations of common RNA transfection methods, thus mitigating myocardial I/RI.

Advanced Cardiac Patches for the Treatment of Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction is a cardiovascular disease characterized by a high incidence rate and mortality. It leads to various cardiac pathophysiological changes, including ischemia/reperfusion injury, inflammation, fibrosis, and ventricular remodeling, which ultimately result in heart failure and pose a significant threat to global health. Although clinical reperfusion therapies and conventional pharmacological interventions improve emergency survival rates and short-term prognoses, they are still limited in providing long-lasting improvements in cardiac function or reversing pathological progression. Recently, cardiac patches have gained considerable attention as a promising therapy for myocardial infarction. These patches consist of scaffolds or loaded therapeutic agents that provide mechanical reinforcement, synchronous electrical conduction, and localized delivery within the infarct zone to promote cardiac restoration. This review elucidates the pathophysiological progression from myocardial infarction to heart failure, highlighting therapeutic targets and various cardiac patches. The review considers the primary scaffold materials, including synthetic, natural, and conductive materials, and the prevalent fabrication techniques and optimal properties of the patch, as well as advanced delivery strategies. Last, the current limitations and prospects of cardiac patch research are considered, with the goal of shedding light on innovative products poised for clinical application.

Swellable Microneedles in Drug Delivery and Diagnostics

This manuscript explores the transformative potential of swellable microneedles (MNs) in drug delivery and diagnostics, addressing critical needs in medical treatment and monitoring. Innovations in hydrogel-integrated MN arrays facilitate controlled drug release, thereby expanding treatment options for chronic diseases and conditions that require precise dosage control. The review covers challenges, such as scalability, patient compliance, and manufacturing processes, as well as achievements in advanced manufacturing, biocompatibility, and versatile applications. Nonetheless, limitations in physiological responsiveness and long-term stability remain, necessitating further research in material innovation and integration with digital technologies. Future directions focus on expanding biomedical applications, material advancements, and regulatory considerations for widespread clinical adoption.

Corneal fibrosis: From in vitro models to current and upcoming drug and gene medicines

Fibrotic diseases are characterised by myofibroblast differentiation, uncontrolled pathological extracellular matrix accumulation, tissue contraction, scar formation and, ultimately tissue / organ dysfunction. The cornea, the transparent tissue located on the anterior chamber of the eye, is extremely susceptible to fibrotic diseases, which cause loss of corneal transparency and are often associated with blindness. Although topical corticosteroids and antimetabolites are extensively used in the management of corneal fibrosis, they are associated with glaucoma, cataract formation, corneoscleral melting and infection, imposing the need of far more effective therapies. Herein, we summarise and discuss shortfalls and recent advances in in vitro models (e.g. transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) / ascorbic acid / interleukin (IL) induced) and drug (e.g. TGF-β inhibitors, epigenetic modulators) and gene (e.g. gene editing, gene silencing) therapeutic strategies in the corneal fibrosis context. Emerging therapeutical agents (e.g. neutralising antibodies, ligand traps, receptor kinase inhibitors, antisense oligonucleotides) that have shown promise in clinical setting but have not yet assessed in corneal fibrosis context are also discussed.

Dermal extracellular matrix gelatin delivering Prussian blue nanoparticles to relieve skin flap ischemia

The survival rate of flap is a crucial factor for determining the success of tissue repair and reconstruction. Flap transplantation surgery often leads to ischemic and reperfusion injury, causing apoptosis and tissue necrosis, which significantly reduces the survival rate of flap. To address this issue, we developed a porcine skin decellularized matrix gel nanocomplex loaded with alprostadil (Alp) in Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB NPs) called Alp@PB-Gel. This gel not only maintained the cell affinity of the extracellular scaffold but also exhibited a high degree of plasticity. In vitro assays demonstrated that Alp@PB-Gel possessed antioxidant activity, scavenging ROS ability, and effectively promoted the angiogenesis and migration of human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) by stimulating the proliferation of vascular epithelial cells and fibroblasts. In vivo assays further confirmed that Alp@PB-Gel could effectively alleviate necrosis in the early and late stages after surgery, downregulate the levels of NLRP3 and CD68 to inhibit apoptosis and attenuate inflammation, while upregulate the levels of VEGF and CD31 to promote vascular tissue regeneration. Moreover, Alp@PB-Gel exhibited excellent cell affinity and biocompatibility, highlighting its potential for clinical application.

Efficient Loading and Sustained Delivery of Methotrexate Using a Tip-Swellable Microneedle Array Patch for Psoriasis Treatment

Methotrexate (MTX), a primary treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis, is limited in clinical use due to suboptimal results and severe side effects from subcutaneous (SC) injection and oral administration. Microneedles offer a promising alternative for direct MTX delivery to targeted skin lesions, but issues such as drug wastage, dosage inaccuracy, and limited drug residence time in the lesions remain. This study introduces a tip-swellable microneedle array patch (TSMAP) using photo-cross-linked methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) and biocompatible resin for effective MTX loading and sustained delivery. A two-cast micromolding with vacuum drying is employed to concentrate cross-linked MeHA in about 30% of the needle's height at the tip, thereby ensuring that only the TSMAP tip swells. Efficient MTX loading into TSMAP tips is achieved through a 30 s drug solution immersion and 10 min drying, potentially minimizing drug waste from incomplete skin insertion due to skin elasticity. The MTX-loaded TSMAP effectively penetrates both porcine and psoriasis-like mouse skin with its tips detaching from the resin substrate and embedding deeply into the skin tissue, thereby functioning as a drug release reservoir. TSMAP significantly prolongs drug retention in skin compared with SC injection and dissolvable microneedles. The in vivo study demonstrates that TSMAP-mediated MTX delivery substantially enhances therapeutic outcomes in alleviating psoriasis symptoms and downregulating psoriasis-associated cytokines, outperforming oral administration, SC injection, and dissolvable microneedles. Thus, TSMAP could offer an efficient and user-friendly alternative for drug administration in the treatment of various skin diseases.

Hydrogels for the Treatment of Myocardial Infarction: Design and Therapeutic Strategies

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have become the leading global burden of diseases in recent years and are the primary cause of human mortality and loss of healthy life expectancy. Myocardial infarction (MI) is the top cause of CVDs-related deaths, and its incidence is increasing worldwide every year. Recently, hydrogels have garnered great interest from researchers as a promising therapeutic option for cardiac tissue repair after MI. This is due to their excellent properties, including biocompatibility, mechanical properties, injectable properties, anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant properties, angiogenic properties, and conductive properties. This review discusses the advantages of hydrogels as a novel treatment for cardiac tissue repair after MI. The design strategies of various hydrogels in MI treatment are then summarized, and the latest research progress in the field is classified. Finally, the future perspectives of this booming field are also discussed at the end of this review.

The Progress in the Application of Dissolving Microneedles in Biomedicine

In recent years, microneedle technology has been widely used for the transdermal delivery of substances, showing improvements in drug delivery effects with the advantages of minimally invasive, painless, and convenient operation. With the development of nano- and electrochemical technology, different types of microneedles are increasingly being used in other biomedical fields. Recent research progress shows that dissolving microneedles have achieved remarkable results in the fields of dermatological treatment, disease diagnosis and monitoring, and vaccine delivery, and they have a wide range of application prospects in various biomedical fields, showing their great potential as a form of clinical treatment. This review mainly focuses on dissolving microneedles, summarizing the latest research progress in various biomedical fields, providing inspiration for the subsequent intelligent and commercial development of dissolving microneedles, and providing better solutions for clinical treatment.

Hydrogel-Based Microneedle as a Drug Delivery System

The skin is considered the largest and most accessible organ in the human body, and allows the use of noninvasive and efficient strategies for drug administration, such as the transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS). TDDSs are systems or patches, with the ability and purpose to deliver effective and therapeutic doses of drugs through the skin. Regarding the specific interaction between hydrogels (HG) and microneedles (MNs), we seek to find out how this combination would be applied in the context of drug delivery, and we detail some possible advantages of the methods used. Depending on the components belonging to the HG matrix, we can obtain some essential characteristics that make the combination of hydrogels-microneedles (HG-MNs) very advantageous, such as the response to external stimuli, among others. Based on multiple characteristics provided by HGMNs that are depicted in this work, it is possible to obtain unique properties that include controlled, sustained, and localized drug release, as well as the possibility of a synergistic association between the components of the formulation and the combination of more than one bioactive component. In conclusion, a system based on HG-MNs can offer many advantages in the biomedical field, bringing to light a new technological and safe system for improving the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs and new treatment perspectives.

Microneedle-based cell delivery and cell sampling for biomedical applications

Cell-based therapeutics are novel therapeutic strategies that can potentially treat many presently incurable diseases through novel mechanisms of action. Cell therapies may benefit from the ease, safety, and efficacy of administering therapeutic cells. Despite considerable recent technological and biological advances, several barriers remain to the clinical translation and commercialization of cell-based therapies, including low patient compliance, personal handling inconvenience, poor biosafety, and limited biocompatibility. Microneedles (MNs) are emerging as a promising biomedical device option for improved cell delivery with little invasion, pain-free administration, and simplicity of disposal. MNs have shown considerable promise in treating a wide range of diseases and present the potential to improve cell-based therapies. In this review, we first summarized the latest advances in the various types of MNs developed for cell delivery and cell sampling. Emphasis was given to the design and fabrication of various types of MNs based on their structures and materials. Then we focus on the recent biomedical applications status of MNs-mediated cell delivery and sampling, including tissue repair (wound healing, heart repair, and endothelial repair), cancer treatment, diabetes therapy, cell sampling, and other applications. Finally, the current status of clinical application, potential perspectives, and the challenges for clinical translation are also highlighted.

Application of biomedical materials in the diagnosis and treatment of myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a cardiovascular emergency and the leading cause of death worldwide. Inflammatory and immune responses are initiated immediately after MI, leading to myocardial death, scarring, and ventricular remodeling. Current therapeutic approaches emphasize early restoration of ischemic myocardial reperfusion, but there is no effective treatment for the pathological changes of infarction. Biomedical materials development has brought new hope for MI diagnosis and treatment. Biomedical materials, such as cardiac patches, hydrogels, nano biomaterials, and artificial blood vessels, have played an irreplaceable role in MI diagnosis and treatment. They improve the accuracy and efficacy of MI diagnosis and offer further possibilities for reducing inflammation, immunomodulation, inhibiting fibrosis, and cardiac regeneration. This review focuses on the advances in biomedical materials applications in MI diagnosis and treatment. The current studies are outlined in terms of mechanisms of action and effects. It is addressed how biomedical materials application can lessen myocardial damage, encourage angiogenesis, and enhance heart function. Their clinical transformation value and application prospect are discussed.

Photocrosslinked methacrylated natural macromolecular hydrogels for tissue engineering: A review

A hydrogel is a three-dimensional (3D) network structure formed through polymer crosslinking, and these have emerged as a popular research topic in recent years. Hydrogel crosslinking can be classified as physical, chemical, or enzymatic, and photocrosslinking is a branch of chemical crosslinking. Compared with other methods, photocrosslinking can control the hydrogel crosslinking initiation, crosslinking time, and crosslinking strength using light. Owing to these properties, photocrosslinked hydrogels have important research prospects in tissue engineering, in situ gel formation, 3D bioprinting, and drug delivery. Methacrylic anhydride modification is a common method for imparting photocrosslinking properties to polymers, and graft-substituted polymers can be photocrosslinked under UV irradiation. In this review, we first introduce the characteristics of common natural polysaccharide- and protein-based hydrogels and the processes used for methacrylate group modification. Next, we discuss the applications of methacrylated natural hydrogels in tissue engineering. Finally, we summarize and discuss existing methacrylated natural hydrogels in terms of limitations and future developments. We expect that this review will help researchers in this field to better understand the synthesis of methacrylate-modified natural hydrogels and their applications in tissue engineering.

An Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Cardiac Tissue-Patch Interrelation

Tissue engineered cardiac patches have great potential as a regenerative therapy for myocardial infarction. Yet, the mutual interaction of cardiac patches with healthy tissue has not been completely understood. Here, we investigated the impact of acellular and cellular patches on a beating two-dimensional (2D) cardiac cell layer, and the effect of the beating of this layer on the cells encapsulated in the patch. We cultured human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iCMs) on a coverslip and placed gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel alone or with encapsulated iCMs to create acellular and cellular patches, respectively. When the acellular patch was placed on the cardiac cell layer, the beating characteristics and Ca+2 handling properties reduced, whereas placing the cellular patch restored these characteristics. To better understand the effects of the cyclic contraction and relaxation induced by the beating cardiac cell layer on the patch placed on top of it, a simulation model was developed, and the calculated strain values were in agreement with the values measured experimentally. Moreover, this dynamic culture induced by the beating 2D iCM layer on the iCMs encapsulated in the cellular patch improved their beating velocity and frequency. Additionally, the encapsulated iCMs were observed to be coupled with the underlying beating 2D iCM layer. Overall, this study provides a detailed investigation on the mutual relationship of acellular/cellular patches with the beating 2D iCM layer, understanding of which would be valuable for developing more advanced cardiac patches.

Formulation and Evaluation of PLGA Nanoparticulate-Based Microneedle System for Potential Treatment of Neurological Diseases

Introduction

The tight structure of the blood-brain barrier severely limits the level of drug therapy for central nervous system disorders. In this study, a novel composite delivery system combining nanocarrier and microneedle technology was prepared to explore the possibility of transdermal delivery of drugs to work in the brain.

Methods

Nanoparticle solutions containing paroxetine and rhodamine-B were prepared using PLGA as a carrier by the emulsification-solvent volatilization method. Then, they were mixed with hyaluronic acid and the PLGA nanoparticulate-based microneedle system (Rh-NPs-DMNs) was prepared by a multi-step decompression-free diffusion method. The particle size, zeta potential, and micromorphology of the nano solution were measured; the appearance, mechanical strength, dissolution properties, and puncture effect of the Rh-NPs-DMNs were evaluated; also, it was evaluated for in vivo live imaging properties and in vitro skin layer transport and distribution properties.

Results

The mean particle size of Rh-NPs was 96.25 ± 2.26 nm; zeta potential of 15.89 ± 1.97 mV; PDI of 0.120 ± 0.079. Rh-NPs-DMNs had a high needle content of 96.11 ± 1.27% and a tip height of 651.23 ± 1.28 μm, with excellent mechanical properties (fracture force of 299.78 ± 1.74 N). H&E skin tissue staining showed that Rh-NPs-DMNs produced micron-sized mechanical pores approximately 550 μm deep immediately after drug administration, allowing for efficient circulation of the drug; and the results of in vivo imaging showed that Rh-B NPs DMNs had a faster transport rate than Rh-B DMNs, with strong fluorescent signals in both brain (P<0.01) and hippocampus (P<0.05) 48 h after drug administration.

Conclusion

Nanoparticles can prolong blood circulation time and intracerebral retention time and have certain brain-targeting properties due to their excellent physical properties. The use of microneedle technology combined with nanocarriers provides new ideas for delivery systems for the treatment of central neurological diseases.

Functional hydrogels for the repair and regeneration of tissue defects

Tissue defects can be accompanied by functional impairments that affect the health and quality of life of patients. Hydrogels are three-dimensional (3D) hydrophilic polymer networks that can be used as bionic functional tissues to fill or repair damaged tissue as a promising therapeutic strategy in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This paper summarises and discusses four outstanding advantages of hydrogels and their applications and advances in the repair and regeneration of tissue defects. First, hydrogels have physicochemical properties similar to the extracellular matrix of natural tissues, providing a good microenvironment for cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. Second, hydrogels have excellent shape adaptation and tissue adhesion properties, allowing them to be applied to a wide range of irregularly shaped tissue defects and to adhere well to the defect for sustained and efficient repair function. Third, the hydrogel is an intelligent delivery system capable of releasing therapeutic agents on demand. Hydrogels are capable of delivering therapeutic reagents and releasing therapeutic substances with temporal and spatial precision depending on the site and state of the defect. Fourth, hydrogels are self-healing and can maintain their integrity when damaged. We then describe the application and research progress of functional hydrogels in the repair and regeneration of defects in bone, cartilage, skin, muscle and nerve tissues. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced by hydrogels in the field of tissue regeneration and provide an outlook on their future trends.

Microneedles for in situ tissue regeneration

Tissue injury is a common clinical problem, which may cause great burden on patients' life. It is important to develop functional scaffolds to promote tissue repair and regeneration. Due to their unique composition and structure, microneedles have attracted extensive attention in various tissues regeneration, including skin wound, corneal injury, myocardial infarction, endometrial injury, and spinal cord injury et al. Microneedles with micro-needle structure can effectively penetrate the barriers of necrotic tissue or biofilm, therefore improving the bioavailability of drugs. The use of microneedles to deliver bioactive molecules, mesenchymal stem cells, and growth factors in situ allows for targeted tissue and better spatial distribution. At the same time, microneedles can also provide mechanical support or directional traction for tissue, thus accelerating tissue repair. This review summarized the research progress of microneedles for in situ tissue regeneration over the past decade. At the same time, the shortcomings of existing researches, future research direction and clinical application prospect were also discussed.

Cardiac tissue engineering for myocardial infarction treatment

Myocardial infarction is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current treatments can relieve the symptoms of myocardial ischemia but cannot repair the necrotic myocardial tissue. Novel therapeutic strategies based on cellular therapy, extracellular vesicles, non-coding RNAs and growth factors have been designed to restore cardiac function while inducing cardiomyocyte cycle re-entry, ensuring angiogenesis and cardioprotection, and preventing ventricular remodeling. However, they face low stability, cell engraftment issues or enzymatic degradation in vivo, and it is thus essential to combine them with biomaterial-based delivery systems. Microcarriers, nanocarriers, cardiac patches and injectable hydrogels have yielded promising results in preclinical studies, some of which are currently being tested in clinical trials. In this review, we cover the recent advances made in cellular and acellular therapies used for cardiac repair after MI. We present current trends in cardiac tissue engineering related to the use of microcarriers, nanocarriers, cardiac patches and injectable hydrogels as biomaterial-based delivery systems for biologics. Finally, we discuss some of the most crucial aspects that should be addressed in order to advance towards the clinical translation of cardiac tissue engineering approaches.