Abstract 19120: Minimally Invasive Delivery of Engineered Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1-a via a Dynamic, Dual Crosslinking Hydrogel Limits Left Ventricular Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction

Objective: Shear-thinning hydrogels are promising vehicles for minimally invasive drug delivery. Continued development of advanced hydrogels is necessary to maximize their therapeutic potential. In this study, we encapsulated an engineered angiogenic cytokine, stromal cell-derived factor 1-α (ESA) in a novel, injectable hydrogel which undergoes a dual crosslinking mechanism. The first crosslinking step occurs ex situ via dynamic covalent bonds. The second step occurs in situ via thermal phase transition at body temperature to enforce the network, extending ESA release. We hypothesized that delivery of ESA via this novel, bioengineered hydrogel would facilitate targeted, sustained intramyocardial release, thereby prolonging endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) homing and improving left ventricular (LV) function in a rat model of myocardial ischemia. Methods: Cytoprotective and migratory effects of ESA on human EPCs were assessed via WST1 viability and QCM chemotaxis assays. Hydrogel release was monitored usin...