Enhancing retention and efficacy of cardiosphere-derived cells administered after myocardial infarction using a hyaluronan-gelatin hydrogel.

Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) are under clinical development and are currently being tested in a clinical trial enrolling patients who have undergone a myocardial infarction. CDCs are presently administered via infusion into the infarct-related artery and have been shown in early clinical trials to be effective agents of myocardial regeneration. This review describes the administration of CDCs in a hyaluronan-gelatin hydrogel via myocardial injection and the subsequent improvements in therapeutic benefit seen in animal models. Development of a next generation therapy involving the combination of CDCs and hydrogel is discussed.