Alginate, collagen, and poly (ethylene glycol): Recent developments and challenges in cardiac patches

Effective clinical initiatives are required to develop the therapy of cardiovascular diseases, particularly myocardial infarction as the most common cardiovascular disease. Various investigations have focused on improving methods to regenerate damaged heart tissue. In this way, engineered cardiac patches have been employed as one promising technique promoting myocardium regeneration. Conventional cardiac patches could not provide the ordered structure and electroconductivity property of heart tissue. Biological simulation of the electroconductivity and ordered structure of the native extracellular matrix (ECM) of the human heart is a key factor in fabricating cardiac patches. In this regard, novel approaches should be employed to fabricate electroconductive and structured cardiac patches. Synthetic and natural polymers have displayed promising biocompatibility and bioavailability features appropriate for the production of cardiac patches. The present mini-review has tried to provide recent trends and challenges regarding applying alginate, chitosan, and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in novel cardiac patches.