Injectable Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Myocardial Regeneration: A Review of the Literature

Stem cell-based therapies are an emerging treatment modality aimed at replenishing lost cardiomyocytes and improving myocardial function after cardiac injury. This review examines the current state of research on injectable stem cell therapies in the setting of cardiovascular disease given their rel...

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Main Authors: Marissa Guo, Tatsuya Watanabe, Toshiharu Shinoka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Functional Biomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/5/152
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author Marissa Guo
Tatsuya Watanabe
Toshiharu Shinoka
author_facet Marissa Guo
Tatsuya Watanabe
Toshiharu Shinoka
author_sort Marissa Guo
collection DOAJ
description Stem cell-based therapies are an emerging treatment modality aimed at replenishing lost cardiomyocytes and improving myocardial function after cardiac injury. This review examines the current state of research on injectable stem cell therapies in the setting of cardiovascular disease given their relative simplicity and ability for deep myocardial tissue penetration. Various methods of cell delivery, ranging in level of invasiveness and procedural complexity, have been developed, and numerous cell types have been studied as potential sources of stem cells, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. We discuss key challenges associated with this approach, including low stem cell retention after transplantation and the innovative biomolecular strategies that have been explored to address this issue. Overall, investigations into the application of stem cells toward cardiac regeneration remain predominantly in the preclinical stage with a number of small, early-phase clinical trials. However, continued scientific advancements in stem cell technology may provide transformative treatment options for patients with heart failure, offering improved survival and quality of life.
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spelling doaj-art-9e8cf852d790486d8d24818d17040caa2025-08-20T02:33:54ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Biomaterials2079-49832025-04-0116515210.3390/jfb16050152Injectable Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Myocardial Regeneration: A Review of the LiteratureMarissa Guo0Tatsuya Watanabe1Toshiharu Shinoka2Center for Regenerative Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USACenter for Regenerative Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USACenter for Regenerative Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USAStem cell-based therapies are an emerging treatment modality aimed at replenishing lost cardiomyocytes and improving myocardial function after cardiac injury. This review examines the current state of research on injectable stem cell therapies in the setting of cardiovascular disease given their relative simplicity and ability for deep myocardial tissue penetration. Various methods of cell delivery, ranging in level of invasiveness and procedural complexity, have been developed, and numerous cell types have been studied as potential sources of stem cells, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. We discuss key challenges associated with this approach, including low stem cell retention after transplantation and the innovative biomolecular strategies that have been explored to address this issue. Overall, investigations into the application of stem cells toward cardiac regeneration remain predominantly in the preclinical stage with a number of small, early-phase clinical trials. However, continued scientific advancements in stem cell technology may provide transformative treatment options for patients with heart failure, offering improved survival and quality of life.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/5/152cardiac regenerationstem cell-based therapycardiovascular diseasetissue engineering
spellingShingle Marissa Guo
Tatsuya Watanabe
Toshiharu Shinoka
Injectable Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Myocardial Regeneration: A Review of the Literature
Journal of Functional Biomaterials
cardiac regeneration
stem cell-based therapy
cardiovascular disease
tissue engineering
title Injectable Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Myocardial Regeneration: A Review of the Literature
title_full Injectable Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Myocardial Regeneration: A Review of the Literature
title_fullStr Injectable Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Myocardial Regeneration: A Review of the Literature
title_full_unstemmed Injectable Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Myocardial Regeneration: A Review of the Literature
title_short Injectable Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Myocardial Regeneration: A Review of the Literature
title_sort injectable stem cell based therapies for myocardial regeneration a review of the literature
topic cardiac regeneration
stem cell-based therapy
cardiovascular disease
tissue engineering
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/5/152
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AT tatsuyawatanabe injectablestemcellbasedtherapiesformyocardialregenerationareviewoftheliterature
AT toshiharushinoka injectablestemcellbasedtherapiesformyocardialregenerationareviewoftheliterature