Infarct stabilization and cardiac repair with a VEGF-conjugated, injectable hydrogel

Injectable scaffolds made of biodegradable biomaterials can stabilize a myocardial infarct and promote cardiac repair. Here, we describe the synthesis of a new, temperature-sensitive, aliphatic polyester hydrogel (HG) conjugated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and evaluate its effects on cardiac recovery after a myocardial infarction (MI). Seven days after coronary ligation in rats, PBS, HG, or HG mixed or conjugated with VEGF …