Document Type : Research Review Article
Authors
1
Ph.D. Candidate, Institute for Convergence Science and Technology, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. Scool of Advanced Medical, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
2
Associate Professor, Biotechnology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
3
Associate Professor, Institute for Convergence Science and Technology, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
4
Professor, National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
5
Professor, Institute for Convergence Science and Technology, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease, particularly myocardial infarction, remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Despite advancements in treatment strategies, the clinical application of existing therapies is hindered by the impaired electrical and mechanical properties of damaged cardiac tissue. To address these challenges, researchers have explored the integration of stem cells with biomaterials to develop bio-mimetic engineered constructs in vitro. These constructs are essential for cardiac tissue regeneration, drug screening, and congenital heart disease research. During heart development, mechanical, chemical, and electrical signals contribute to enhanced cell-cell interactions, cellular alignment, and functional maturity. Among these stimuli, Electrical Stimulation (ES) has emerged as a promising intervention for cardiac tissue engineering. This review explores the role of endogenous bioelectrical signals in cardiac tissue and their impact on cellular processes such as adhesion, proliferation, alignment, migration, and differentiation in response to ES. In addition, we discuss the introduction of electroactive biomaterials (EABMs), which are capable of generating electrical signals, and the latest advancements in their application for cardiac tissue engineering. The final section highlights the current limitations of this approach and future prospects in the field.
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