Scientists have developed a new injectable hydrogel, made from materials found in fish swim bladders, that could help repair damaged heart tissue after a heart attack. This breakthrough, published in Advanced Science, offers a promising approach to heart regeneration using natural materials.
The swim bladder is an organ that helps fish float in water. It’s rich in proteins like collagen, glycosaminoglycans, and elastin—components that are also found in the human heart. Because of this similarity, researchers from Nankai University in China decided to use parts of the swim bladder to create a special hydrogel designed to support healing in damaged hearts.
Hydrogels are soft, jelly-like substances made by linking together long chains of molecules called polymers. They can be injected into the body, making them ideal for treating sensitive areas like the heart. In this study, the hydrogel made from fish swim bladder materials was found to do several important things that could help the heart recover after injury.
First, it helped heart cells stick to the damaged area and stretch, which is essential for rebuilding healthy heart muscle.
It also encouraged the growth of new blood vessels, which improves blood flow and oxygen delivery to the healing tissue. In addition, the hydrogel activated immune cells that reduce inflammation, a key step in preventing further damage after a heart attack.
The hydrogel was tested both in lab-grown heart cells and in rats with ischemic heart failure, a condition caused by blocked blood flow that leads to the death of heart muscle cells. In both cases, the hydrogel showed strong potential to support healing.
Treated hearts had better contractions and overall improved function, suggesting that the hydrogel gave long-lasting support to the heart muscle.
Dr. Zhihong Wang, the lead author of the study, explained that the loss of heart muscle cells after a heart attack is usually permanent. Since the heart cannot naturally regenerate these cells, new treatments are urgently needed.
According to Dr. Wang, the unique biological properties of the fish swim bladder allowed the team to make a hydrogel that not only supports heart tissue structurally but also actively helps it heal.
This approach could offer a new and more effective way to treat heart failure, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While the research is still in the early stages and more testing is needed before the treatment can be used in humans, the findings show that nature—specifically, materials from fish—could play a big role in the future of heart repair.
In summary, this study introduces a natural, fish-derived hydrogel that promotes heart healing by supporting cells, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow. If further research confirms these effects in larger animal models and eventually in humans, this innovative material may help transform the way we treat heart attacks and heart failure.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm.
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The research findings can be found in Advanced Science.
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