Injectable gel could repair damaged heart tissue (USA)

Researchers in the US have developed a new injectable hydrogel that could be an effective and safe treatment for tissue damage caused by heart attacks. Developed by a team at University of California, San Diego, the hydrogel is made up of cardiac connective tissue that is stripped of heart muscle cells through a cleansing process, freeze dried and milled into powder form before being liquefied. Once it hits body temperature, the liquid turns into a semi-solid, porous gel that encourages cells to repopulate areas of damaged cardiac tissue and to preserve heart function. The hydrogel forms a scaffold to repair the tissue and provides biochemical signals that prevent further deterioration in the surrounding tissues