Post-infarct treatment with an erythropoietin–gelatin hydrogel drug delivery system for cardiac repair

We investigated the effect of an erythropoietin (EPO)–gelatin hydrogel drug delivery system (DDS) applied to the heart on myocardial infarct (MI) size, left ventricular (LV) remodelling and function.

Experiments were performed in a rabbit model of MI. The infarct size was reduced, and LV remodelling and function were improved 14 days and 2 months after MI but not at 2 days after MI in the EPO-DDS group. The number of cluster of differentiation 31(CD31)-positive microvessels and the expression of erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R), phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt), phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK-3β), phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (p-ERK), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-Stat3), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) were significantly increased in the myocardium of the EPO-DDS group.

Post-MI treatment with an EPO-DDS improves LV remodelling and function by activating prosurvival signalling, antifibrosis, and angiogenesis without causing any side effect.