Stem cells derived exosomes and biomaterials to modulate autophagy and mend broken hearts

Autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis and plays a crucial role in managing pathological conditions including ischemic myocardial injury leading to heart failure (HF). Despite treatments, no intervention can replace lost cardiomyocytes. Stem cell therapy offers potential for post-myocardial infarction repair but struggles with poor cell retention due to immune rejection. In the search for effective therapies, stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), especially exosomes, have emerged as promising tools. These tiny bioactive molecule carriers play vital roles in intercellular communication and tissue engineering. They offer numerous therapeutic benefits including modulating immune responses, promoting tissue repair, and boosting angiogenesis. Additionally, biomaterials provide a conducive 3D microenvironment for cell, exosome, and biomolecule delivery, and enhance heart muscle strength, making it a comprehensive cardiac repair strategy. In this regard, the current review delves into the intricate application of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and biomaterials for managing autophagy in the heart muscle during cardiac injury. Central to our investigation is the exploration of how these elements interact within the context of cardiac repair and regeneration. Additionally, this review also casts light on the formidable challenges that plague this field, such as the issues of safety, efficacy, controlled delivery, and acceptance of these therapeutic strategies for effective clinical translation. Addressing these challenges is crucial for unlocking the full therapeutic potential of EV and biomaterial-based therapies and ensuring their successful translation from bench to bedside

Carbon nanomaterials for cardiovascular theranostics: Promises and challenges

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Heart attack and stroke cause irreversible tissue damage. The currently available treatment options are limited to “damage-control” rather than tissue repair. The recent advances in nanomaterials have offered novel approaches to restore tissue function after injury. In particular, carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) have shown significant promise to bridge the gap in clinical translation of biomaterial based therapies. This family of carbon allotropes (including graphenes, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes) have unique physiochemical properties, including exceptional mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, chemical behaviour, thermal stability and optical properties. These intrinsic properties make CNMs ideal materials for use in cardiovascular theranostics. This review is focused on recent efforts in the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases using graphenes and carbon nanotubes. The first section introduces currently available derivatives of graphenes and carbon nanotubes and discusses some of the key characteristics of these materials. The second section covers their application in drug delivery, biosensors, tissue engineering and immunomodulation with a focus on cardiovascular applications. The final section discusses current shortcomings and limitations of CNMs in cardiovascular applications and reviews ongoing efforts to address these concerns and to bring CNMs from bench to bedside

Green tea polyphenols in cardiometabolic health: A critical appraisal on Phytogenomics towards personalized green tea

Cardiovascular disease is a chronic multifactorial health complication that is either directly or indirectly associated with pathophysiological mechanisms, including pro-oxidation, pro-inflammation, vascular and endothelial dysfunction, impaired platelet function, thrombosis, and others. The therapeutic options to circumvent cardiovascular complications include several phytomedicines, including green tea polyphenols. However, while many experimental and clinical studies report distinct mechanisms by which the polyphenols of green tea elicit a beneficial role in cardiometabolic health, the translation and applications of green tea polyphenols in clinics have yet to gain their optimal use on the broader population. This review critically appraises the various reported mechanisms of green tea polyphenols in modulating cardio-metabolic health and associated phyto-genomic challenges. Further, our review highlights the probability of gene polymorphic associated therapeutic variations in individuals using green tea for cardio-metabolic effects and the necessity to personalize green tea for clinical use, thereby improvising the risk-benefit ratio