Compositions and methods for cardiac therapy
Provided herein are methods and compositions for cardiac therapy. Such compositions include extracellular-matrix (ECM)-based products that can be used to support tissue repair. The compositions can be used for various purposes. In some cases, they can be introduced into a subject in order to preserve and/or repair damaged heart tissue.
1. A composition comprising digested, decellularized extracellular matrix derived from cardiac tissue, the extracellular matrix having a pore size of about 30 to 40 microns, wherein the composition is injectable through a catheter with an inner diameter of 25G or smaller, and wherein the extracellular matrix comprises glycosaminoglycan in a concentration of between about 60 to 120 μg mL of the extracellular matrix.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one digestive enzyme.
3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the at least one digestive enzyme cleaves the matrix such that the composition gels at greater than 20° C. or wherein the at least one digestive enzyme cleaves the matrix such that the composition gels in less than 30 minutes.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the digested, decellularized extracellular matrix is derived from ventricular tissue.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a growth factor.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is in a gel form within 30 minutes after delivery to in vivo tissue.
7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises factors that promote survival of endogenous cardiomyocytes and cardiac cells.
8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises: alginate and water.
9. A tissue culture device comprising: a composition comprising digested, decellularized extracellular matrix derived from cardiac tissue, the extracellular matrix having a pore size of about 30 to 40 microns; and a substrate, wherein the tissue culture device is used for in vitro tissue culture; and wherein the extracellular matrix comprises from about 10 to about 20 ug of glycosaminoglycans per mg of the extracellular matrix.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the substrate is a tissue culture plate.
11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the matrix is in the shape of a mold.
12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the matrix is molded to the shape of the substrate.
13. A method for repairing cardiac tissue comprising injecting in a subject the composition of claim 1 .
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said composition is injected earlier than one month following myocardial infarction.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said composition degrades within three months following injection or implantation.
16. The composition of claim 1 , wherein following injection or implantation in a subject, the composition degrades within three months.
17. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the material transitions to gel from in vivo.
18. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the digested, decellularized extracellular matrix derived from cardiac tissue is enzymatically digested.