Selenium nanoparticles loaded nanofibers ameliorate cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction in rat MI model

Objective(s): Acute myocardial infarction causes the heart to lose its proper function due to contractile dysfunction within the damaged ischemic cardiac tissue. Different studies have presented various cardiac patches based on different biomaterials to support the infarcted myocardium to recover cardiac function. Materials and Methods: In this study, we developed a nanofiber cardiac patch with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were enriched with chitosan-coated selenium nanoparticles (Cs-SeNPs) using an electrospinning technique. Results: The PCL/Cs-SeNPs nanofibers, with an average diameter of 648.36±259.19 nm, displayed antioxidant properties in the DPPH assay. Additionally, viable cell count assessment demonstrated the antibacterial effects of PCL/Cs-SeNPs nanofibers against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. MTT assay results revealed improved proliferation for the PCL/Cs-SeNPs nanofibers compared to the PCL nanofibers scaffold, with no significant cell toxicity. The SEM imaging and DAPI/Phalloidin staining supported the improved cell adhesion with well-expanded cytoskeleton of 3T3 cells on PCL/Cs-SeNPs nanofibers. In the rat model of myocardial infarction, improved cardiac function and reduced post-surgical adhesion were observed 28 days after surgery. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the PCL/Cs-SeNPs nanofibers cardiac patch can be considered a potent supportive strategy for myocardial rehabilitation after myocardial infarction.