Natural Product-Derived Hydrogels for Myocardial Infarction Repair: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Translational Perspectives
- 1University of Electronic Science and Technology of China , , ,
- 2Southwest Medical University , , ,
Abstract
Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of death worldwide, yet current therapeutic interventions offer limited capacity for functional cardiac regeneration. In recent years, hydrogels derived from natural products have emerged as compelling therapeutic platforms, attributed to their favorable biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability, and intrinsic biological activities. This review systematically summarizes natural product-derived hydrogels for MI repair, with particular emphasis on representative polysaccharide-based systems, including chitosan, alginate, and hyaluronic acid. It also discusses small-molecule self-assembled hydrogels, such as glycyrrhizic acid, puerarin, and rhein, as well as hydrogel-based extracellular vesicle delivery systems, as complementary therapeutic strategies. We further highlight the multifaceted mechanisms through which these materials ameliorate the pathological cardiac microenvironment, including structural reinforcement, restoration of electrical conduction, modulation of the immune response, promotion of neovascularization, and scavenging of reactive oxygen species. Critical challenges impeding clinical translation, such as long-term biocompatibility, targeted delivery efficiency, and scalable manufacturing, are thoroughly examined, alongside emerging directions including stimuli-responsive systems and three-dimensional bioprinting technologies. Although natural product-derived hydrogels hold considerable promise for cardiac repair, overcoming existing technical hurdles through continued interdisciplinary research remains imperative for their successful transition from bench to bedside.
Related
- Advances in Smart Hydrogels for Myocardial Infarction Therapy: A Scoping Review of Applications, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.
- Interferon signaling in myocardial infarction: mechanistic insights and translational prospects
- Cellular immunotherapy for lung cancer: current clinical evidence, translational challenges, and future perspectives: a narrative review
- Advances and challenges in personalized cardiac modeling and simulation for predicting the risk of sudden death from malignant arrhythmias in post-myocardial infarction
- Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) in Osteoarthritis: Immunomodulatory and Matrix-Supportive Potential, A2A Receptor-Associated Mechanisms, and Translational Challenges
BibTeX
@article{liang2026natural,
title = {{Natural Product-Derived Hydrogels for Myocardial Infarction Repair: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Translational Perspectives}},
author = {Pan Liang and Yujie Zhang and Tao Ye and Jiangxue Li and Anrui Xiong and Shuhan Zhang and Yongzhou Wang and Ruxiang Xu and Mijia Zhang},
journal = {ACS Omega},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1021/acsomega.6c10567},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c10567/5458802/Natural-Product-Derived-Hydrogels-for-Myocardial},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Natural Product-Derived Hydrogels for Myocardial Infarction Repair: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Translational Perspectives
AU - Pan Liang
AU - Yujie Zhang
AU - Tao Ye
AU - Jiangxue Li
AU - Anrui Xiong
AU - Shuhan Zhang
AU - Yongzhou Wang
AU - Ruxiang Xu
AU - Mijia Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - ACS Omega
DO - 10.1021/acsomega.6c10567
UR - https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c10567/5458802/Natural-Product-Derived-Hydrogels-for-Myocardial
AB - Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of death worldwide, yet current therapeutic interventions offer limited capacity for functional cardiac regeneration. In recent years, hydrogels derived from natural products have emerged as compelling therapeutic platforms, attributed to their favorable biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability, and intrinsic biological activities. This review systematically summarizes natural product-derived hydrogels for MI repair, with particular emphasis on representative polysaccharide-based systems, including chitosan, alginate, and hyaluronic acid. It also discusses small-molecule self-assembled hydrogels, such as glycyrrhizic acid, puerarin, and rhein, as well as hydrogel-based extracellular vesicle delivery systems, as complementary therapeutic strategies. We further highlight the multifaceted mechanisms through which these materials ameliorate the pathological cardiac microenvironment, including structural reinforcement, restoration of electrical conduction, modulation of the immune response, promotion of neovascularization, and scavenging of reactive oxygen species. Critical challenges impeding clinical translation, such as long-term biocompatibility, targeted delivery efficiency, and scalable manufacturing, are thoroughly examined, alongside emerging directions including stimuli-responsive systems and three-dimensional bioprinting technologies. Although natural product-derived hydrogels hold considerable promise for cardiac repair, overcoming existing technical hurdles through continued interdisciplinary research remains imperative for their successful transition from bench to bedside.
SN - 2470-1343
ER -