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In a groundbreaking study, researchers have unveiled the promising results of a pioneering therapy utilizing bioimplants called PeriCord, derived from stem cells of the umbilical cord and pericardium. These bioimplants aid in the regeneration and revascularization of damaged heart tissue, offering new hope for patients recovering from heart attacks.
The study, conducted by the research group ICREC (Heart Failure and Cardiac Regeneration) at Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) and Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST), has been published in the journal eBioMedicine. Over a span of three years, the study monitored seven interventions of this innovative tissue engineering surgery, demonstrating excellent biocompatibility and no rejection in patients.
PeriCord represents a breakthrough in advanced therapy drugs, combining stem cells and tissue engineering to repair the hearts of patients who have suffered heart attacks. Derived from umbilical cord and pericardium stem cells from tissue donors, PeriCord exhibits anti-inflammatory properties and holds potential for treating conditions beyond heart ailments.
Dr. Antoni Bayés, ICREC researcher and lead author of the study, expressed optimism about the therapy’s implications, stating, “This pioneering human clinical trial comes after many years of research in tissue engineering, representing a very innovative and hopeful treatment for patients with a heart scar resulting from a heart attack.”
The clinical trial aimed to demonstrate the safety of PeriCord in patients with myocardial infarction, but its positive outcomes have revealed additional benefits. Not only does PeriCord exhibit excellent biocompatibility, minimizing the risk of rejection, but it also possesses anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting broader applications in inflammatory pathologies.
The therapy targets patients who have experienced heart attacks and suffer from reduced quality of life and life expectancy. By stimulating scarred heart tissue, PeriCord bioimplants initiate cellular mechanisms involved in tissue repair, offering a promising avenue for restoring heart function.
Dr. Sergi Querol, head of the Cellular and Advanced Therapies Service at BST, emphasized the significance of donor contributions to the therapy, stating, “Voluntarily provided substances of human origin are used, both in terms of multi-tissue donor pericardial tissue and mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord donors at the birth of a baby.”
PeriCord consists of a membrane derived from pericardium tissue from a donor, which is decellularized and lyophilized before being recellularized with umbilical cord stem cells. Surgeons then attach the bioimplant to the patient’s heart during surgery, where it integrates seamlessly, covering the scar left by the heart attack.
The successful outcomes of the PeriCord therapy offer new hope for patients with heart ailments and pave the way for further advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
