Design of mesoporous silica nanoparticles with quercitrin hydrogels improves cardiac remodeling and myocardial infarction reprogramming

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains the main cause of human death. Oxidative stress during the acute phase of MI, coupled with unchecked myocardial fibrosis, markedly hinders cardiac repair efficacy post-infarction, resulting in detrimental ventricular remodeling and the risk of heart failure. An injectable hydrogel composite with multifunctional nanoparticles was developed to tackle the various pathological stages of MI. This study utilized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) as nanocarriers for incorporating quercitrin (QCT) with antifibrotic properties, which were then clacked with zinc ions and hyaluronic acid (Zn/HA). The NPs were subsequently incorporated into an alginate (ALG), a biocompatible hydrogel, to improve MI retention. After the in vivo MI model was administered, the hydrogel composites progressively liberated the NPs during their degradation. The outer layer scavenges ROS from the Zn/HA, preventing cell death. The Zn/HA resulted in the release of QCT, which could limit cardiac fibroblast activation and collagen formation. This hydrogel composite exhibited the capacity to enhance cardiac function and diminish infarct size, indicating its potential as a synergic treatment strategy for healing myocardial infarction.