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Abstract
<p class="first" id="d9743411e148">Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the fatal
diseases in humans. Its incidence is
constantly increasing annually all over the world. The problem is accompanied by the
limited regenerative capacity of cardiomyocytes, yielding fibrous scar tissue formation.
The propagation of electrical impulses in such tissue is severely hampered, negatively
influencing the normal heart pumping function. Thus, reconstruction of the internal
cardiac electrical connection is currently a major concern of myocardial repair. Conductive
biomaterials with or without cell loading were extensively investigated to address
this problem. This article introduces a detailed overview of the recent progress in
conductive biomaterials and fabrication methods of conductive scaffolds for cardiac
repair. After that, the advances in myocardial tissue construction in vitro by the
restoration of intercellular communication and simulation of the dynamic electrophysiological
environment are systematically reviewed. Furthermore, the latest trend in the study
of cardiac repair in vivo using various conductive patches is summarized. Finally,
we discuss the achievements and shortcomings of the existing conductive biomaterials
and the properties of an ideal conductive patch for myocardial repair. We hope this
review will help readers understand the importance and usefulness of conductive biomaterials
in cardiac repair and inspire researchers to design and develop new conductive patches
to meet the clinical requirements. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: After myocardial infarction,
the infarcted myocardial area is gradually replaced by heterogeneous fibrous tissue
with inferior conduction properties, resulting in arrhythmia and heart remodeling.
Conductive biomaterials have been extensively adopted to solve the problem. Summarizing
the relevant literature, this review presents an overview of the types and fabrication
methods of conductive biomaterials, and focally discusses the recent advances in myocardial
tissue construction in vitro and myocardial repair in vivo, which is rarely covered
in previous reviews. As well, the deficiencies of the existing conductive patches
and their construction strategies for myocardial repair are discussed as well as the
improving directions. Confidently, the readers of this review would appreciate advantages
and current limitations of conductive biomaterials/patches in cardiac repair.
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