Heart Attack Healing: Injectable Polymer Advance
- A novel intravenous therapy using protein-like polymers (PLPs) shows promise in preventing heart failure following a heart attack, according to researchers at UC San Diego and Northwestern University.The...
- the research, published in Advanced Materials, demonstrated the therapy's effectiveness in rats, even when administered up to five weeks after the initial heart attack.
- Nathan Gianneschi, a professor at Northwestern, suggested the therapeutic platform could have wider applications.
New Therapy Boosts Heart Attack Recovery, Prevents heart Failure
Updated June 8, 2025
A novel intravenous therapy using protein-like polymers (PLPs) shows promise in preventing heart failure following a heart attack, according to researchers at UC San Diego and Northwestern University.The therapy encourages tissue repair and boosts the survival of heart muscle cells.
the research, published in Advanced Materials, demonstrated the therapy’s effectiveness in rats, even when administered up to five weeks after the initial heart attack. Karen Christman, a professor at UC San Diego, emphasized the urgent clinical need for such interventions. The goal is to administer the therapy soon after a heart attack to prevent the onset of heart failure.
Nathan Gianneschi, a professor at Northwestern, suggested the therapeutic platform could have wider applications. It may perhaps treat conditions ranging from macular degeneration to multiple sclerosis and kidney disease.
The PLP platform works by blocking the interaction of Nrf2 and KEAP1, two key proteins involved in the body’s response to inflammation.By mimicking Nrf2, the injected polymer binds to KEAP1, preventing it from degrading Nrf2 and allowing tissues to heal more effectively.
In the rat studies, animals receiving the PLP platform showed improved cardiac function and significantly more heart muscle tissue healing compared to those receiving a saline solution. Tests also revealed increased expression of genes that promote tissue repair.
Researchers consider this study a proof of concept. They plan to optimize the design and dosage and conduct further analysis before moving to larger animal trials.
“Preventing heart failure after a heart attack is still a major unmet clinical need,” said Karen Christman, a professor in bioengineering at UC San Diego.
What’s next
The research team plans further studies to optimize the therapy’s design and dosage before proceeding to trials in larger mammals. The team hopes this protein-like polymer platform can become a key therapy for heart attack recovery and secondary prevention of heart failure.