β-PVDF based electrospun nanofibers - A promising material for developing cardiac patches

Necrosis in heart muscles can permanently hinder the natural healthy rhythm of heart pumping mechanism. The damaged muscular tissues are replaced by scar tissues and burdens the healthy muscles resulting in further attenuated functioning of heart. Since, human heart muscles cannot regenerate naturally or it has been thought so, pharmacological procedures such as using a heart assist device are followed to restore the lost function of heart. Stem cell engineering and cardiac patches offers promising prospects with their cutting edge research reports. Cardiac patches offers a viable solution as they can also function as an implant to assist in offering the mechanical support the damaged muscles were capable of. Designing cardiac patches to suit multiple functions is not only challenging but also perilous due to the target organ with which it will be interfaced. Sensor based, electrically active, miniaturized circuitry etc., poses a huge threat to the individual in whom the device/patch is implanted. In this paper, we propose a hypothesis on choosing beta-PVDF based nanocomposites as the inimitable material for designing implantable cardiac patches. beta-PVDF based nanocomposite materials is expected to exhibit piezoelectric effect and contribute to the adherence, proliferation and maturation of stem cells. Physicochemical characterizations followed by in vitro cell line studies were performed in ought to confirm the same. The results revealed that the beta-PVDF based nanocomposite material was mechanically stable and supportive in cardiomyocyte adherence and differentiation when compared to standard non piezoelectric scaffolds (control). Hence, an implantable beta-PVDF based novel electrospun nanocomposite scaffold is hypothesized to be the hour of need in conjugation with stem cell engineering for repairing damaged heart muscles.