Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (32): 8479-8486.doi: 10.12307/2026.297

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Potential and application prospects of combined treatment of acute myocardial infarction with hydrogel cardiac patches and traditional Chinese medicine

Ding Hao1, 2, 3, Gao Yuan1, 2, 4, Li Bin1, 2, 4, Yu Rui1, 2, 4, Wang Jianru1, 2, 4, Sun Yudie1, 2, 3, Wang Xuanyang1, 2, 3, Zhang Wenping1, 2, 3, Zhu Mingjun1, 2, 4   

  1. 1Cardiology Center/Experimental Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; 2Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Major Diseases by Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; 3First Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; 4Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Safety Evaluation and Risk Prevention of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
  • Accepted:2025-12-19 Online:2026-11-18 Published:2026-04-28
  • Contact: Gao Yuan, MD, Chief physician, Doctoral supervisor, Cardiology Center/Experimental Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Major Diseases by Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Safety Evaluation and Risk Prevention of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
  • About author:Ding Hao, MS candidate, Cardiology Center/Experimental Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Major Diseases by Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; First Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China (Key Project), No. 82030120 (to ZMJ); National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth Science Fund Project), No. 81503435 (to GY); Henan Provincial International Science and Technology Cooperation Project, No. 252102521036 (to GY); Henan Provincial Key Research and Development and Promotion Project (Science and Technology Breakthrough), No. 242102310554 (to GY); Henan Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Scientific Research Special Project, No. 2022ZY2009 (to GY); National Clinical Research Base Scientific Research Project of Henan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 2018JDZX058 (to GY); Henan Provincial Key Research and Development and Promotion Project (Science and Technology Breakthrough), No. 242102310527, 252102310470 (to WJR); 2024 Graduate Student Scientific Research Innovation Capacity Improvement Plan Project of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 2024KYCX059 (to SYD) 

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Hydrogel cardiac patches, with their excellent biocompatibility and tunable mechanical properties, demonstrate significant potential in treating acute myocardial infarction, particularly when combined with stem cell technology. Hydrogels modified with active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine can promote the proliferation, differentiation, migration, and homing of stem cells. This synergistic effect provides a new approach for stem cell transplantation based on hydrogel cardiac patches.
OBJECTIVE: To focus on exploring the application scenarios of novel biomaterials—hydrogel cardiac patches combined with traditional Chinese medicine—in treating myocardial infarction and to discuss their development prospects. 
METHODS: Literature on the application of traditional Chinese medicine combined with hydrogel cardiac patches in acute myocardial infarction treatment was retrieved from PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. The search period spanned January 2010 to January 2025. Chinese and English search terms included "hydrogel, cardiac patch, myocardial infarction, Chinese medicine, stem cell, drug delivery system." Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 99 articles were ultimately included in this review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Hydrogel cardiac patches, with their excellent biocompatibility, adjustable mechanical properties, and drug loading capacity, provide ideal mechanical support and microenvironment for myocardial repair. Hydrogel cardiac patches, as hydrophilic polymer biomaterials, possess a three-dimensional network structure that highly mimics the physical properties of the natural extracellular matrix of heart cells. This provides a microenvironment for the propagation and viability of loaded biological cells, aiding in cell migration, adhesion, diffusion, differentiation, and the formation of intercellular connections. Loading stem cells onto hydrogels modified with traditional Chinese medicine allows for thorough induction and regulation of stem cells, enabling more effective cell regeneration therapy in the infarcted area and achieving better repair effects. Therefore, the combined application of traditional Chinese medicine and hydrogel cardiac patches has enormous development potential and prospects. Currently, the combined application of traditional Chinese medicine and hydrogel patches focuses on the following aspects: achieving precise sustained-release therapy of traditional Chinese medicine active ingredients through loading onto hydrogel cardiac patches; inducing pluripotent stem cells for cell regeneration therapy via traditional Chinese medicine-modified hydrogel patches; and combining traditional Chinese medicine with conductive hydrogels to repair cardiac electrophysiological function. Future research requires a deeper understanding of the properties of hydrogels prepared using different materials and methods, as well as the therapeutic effects and application mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine monomers and compound extracts, to achieve more combined applications of traditional Chinese medicine and hydrogel cardiac patches. 

Key words: hydrogel, cardiac patch, myocardial infarction, traditional Chinese medicine, stem cells, drug delivery system, electrophysiology

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