Black-Phosphorus-Reinforced Injectable Conductive Biodegradable Hydrogel for the Delivery of ADSC-Derived Exosomes to Repair Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains one of the leading causes of death globally, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies for effective repair. Conventional treatment methods such as pharmacotherapy, interventional surgery, and cardiac transplantation, while capable of reducing short-term mortality rates, still face significant challenges in post-MI repair including the restoration of intercellular biological and electrical signaling. This study presents a novel exosome-loaded conductive hydrogel designed to enhance myocardial repair by concurrently improving biological and electrical signals. Adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) exosomes, encapsulated within a hyaluronic acid-dopamine (HA-DA) hydrogel, were employed to promote angiogenesis and inhibit inflammation. Incorporating black phosphorus (BP) into the hydrogel improved its electrical conductivity, thereby restoring electrical signal transmission in the infarcted myocardium and preventing arrhythmias. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the exosome-loaded conductive hydrogel significantly enhanced cardiac function recovery by accelerating angiogenesis, reducing inflammation, and increasing electrical activity between myocardial cells. The hydrogel exhibited excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and sustained release of exosomes, ensuring prolonged therapeutic effects. This integrated approach resulted in notable improvements in the left ventricular ejection fraction, reduced fibrosis, and increased neovascularization. The combination of bioactive exosomes and a conductive hydrogel presents a promising therapeutic strategy for myocardial infarction repair.

Keywords: ADSC-derived exosomes; Black phosphorus; Conductive hydrogel; Myocardial infarction repair; Tissue engineering.