Compositions for regenerating defective or absent myocardium

Abstract

Compositions of the invention for regenerating defective or absent myocardium comprise an emulsified or injectable extracellular matrix composition. The composition can also have an extracellular matrix scaffold component of any formulation, then including also added cells, proteins, or other components to optimize the regenerative process and restore cardiac function. Methods for regenerating defective or absent myocardium apply a composition to a site of myocardium in need of regeneration using a delivery mode appropriate for the particular formulation.

1 . A method of inducing angiogenesis in myocardium at a site of ischemia, comprising contacting said ischemic myocardium with a composition an emulsified or injectable extracellular matrix composition from a mammalian or synthetic source in an amount effective to induce angiogenesis in the myocardium at the site of ischemia.  
     
     
         2 . A method of inducing angiogenesis in myocardium at a site of ischemia, comprising contacting said ischemic myocardium with a composition for regenerating defective or absent myocardium and restoring cardiac function in an amount effective to induce angiogenesis in the myocardium at the site of ischemia, said composition comprising an emulsified or injectable extracellular matrix composition derived from a mammalian or synthetic source, said composition further comprising an additional component selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) a cell,    b) a peptide, polypeptide, or protein,    c) a vector having a DNA capable of targeted expression of a selected gene, and    d) a nutrient, a sugar, a fat, a lipid, an amino acid, a nucleic acid, a ribo-nucleic acid, an organic molecule, an inorganic molecule, a small molecule, a drug, or a bioactive molecule.    
     
     
         3 . A method of inducing angiogenesis in myocardium at a site of ischemia, comprising contacting said ischemic myocardium with a composition for regenerating defective or absent myocardium and restoring cardiac function in an amount effective to induce angiogenesis in the myocardium at the site of ischemia, said composition for regenerating defective or absent myocardium and restoring cardiac function comprising at least a portion of an extracellular matrix scaffold derived from a mammalian source and also comprising an additional component selected from the groups consisting of: 
 a) a plurality of synthetic extracellular matrix-like scaffold-forming molecules    b) a cell,    c) a peptide, polypeptide, or protein, and    d) a vector having a DNA capable of targeted expression of a selected gene, and    e) a nutrient, a sugar, a fat, a lipid, an amino acid, a nucleic acid, a ribo-nucleic acid, an organic molecule, an inorganic molecule, a small molecule, a drug, or a bioactive molecule.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3  wherein said contacting step comprises delivering the composition by a delivery means selected from the group consisting of injecting, suturing, stapling, injecting with a percutaneous catheter, CO 2  powering emission of fine emulsion, micronizing an injectable solution, ink jet delivery, physically depositing a sponge, physically depositing a patch, physically depositing a strip, and physically depositing a formed scaffold of any shape.