Angiogenesis induction as a key step in cardiac tissue Regeneration: From angiogenic agents to biomaterials

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. After myocardial infarction, the vascular supply of the heart is damaged or blocked, leading to the formation of scar tissue, followed by several cardiac dysfunctions or even death. In this regard, induction of angiogenesis is considered as a vital process for supplying nutrients and oxygen to the cells in cardiac tissue engineering. The current review aims to summarize different approaches of angiogenesis induction for effective cardiac tissue repair. Accordingly, a comprehensive classification of induction of pro-angiogenic signaling pathways through using engineered biomaterials, drugs, angiogenic factors, as well as combinatorial approaches is introduced as a potential platform for cardiac regeneration application. The angiogenic induction for cardiac repair can enhance patient treatment outcomes and generate economic prospects for the biomedical industry. The development and commercialization of angiogenesis methods often involves collaboration between academic institutions, research organizations, and biomedical companies.