Compositions for regenerating defective or absent myocardium
Compositions of the invention for regenerating defective or absent myocardium comprise an emulsified or injectable extracellular matrix composition. The composition may also include an extracellular matrix scaffold component of any formulation, and further include added cells, proteins, or other components to optimize the regenerative process and restore cardiac function.
1. An injectable graft composition for myocardial tissue regeneration, comprising extracellular matrix (ECM) from mammalian heart tissue, said ECM subjected to a decellularization process, wherein endogenous cells and endogenous glycosaminoglycan (GAG) proteins are extracted from said ECM,
said ECM comprising exogenously added GAG proteins, said exogenously added GAG proteins being added to said ECM after said decellularization process is complete,
said exogenously added GAG proteins replacing said endogenous GAG proteins extracted from said ECM during said decellularization process, wherein bioactivity of said ECM in vivo is maintained.