Heart Patch Uses Timed Drug Delivery to Heal Damage After Heart Attack

A new implantable patch developed by MIT engineers could dramatically improve recovery after heart attacks by delivering a sequence of therapeutic drugs directly to damaged heart tissue. Designed for use during open-heart procedures such as bypass surgery, the patch mimics the body’s natural healing timeline by releasing three different drugs over a two-week period. In preclinical studies, this approach reduced tissue damage by 50 percent and significantly improved cardiac function.

The patch is built from a soft hydrogel embedded with rows of biodegradable microparticles. Each particle contains a specific drug and is engineered to degrade at a precise time point—early, mid, or late in the healing process. The first drug, neuregulin-1, helps prevent cell death in the days immediately following a heart attack. The second, VEGF, promotes the growth of new blood vessels to restore circulation. The third, GW788388, reduces fibrosis, which can stiffen heart tissue and impair function.

This time-controlled delivery system builds on earlier work by the MIT team, who previously developed programmable microparticles for vaccine delivery. By adjusting the molecular weight of the polymer “lids” on each particle, the researchers can control when each drug is released. The hydrogel matrix, made from alginate and PEGDA, dissolves gradually and conforms to the heart’s surface without interfering with its motion.

In lab experiments using 3D heart tissue models, the patch improved cell survival, reduced scarring, and enhanced vascularization under low-oxygen conditions. In rat models of heart attack, animals treated with the patch showed a 50 percent reduction in damaged tissue, a 33 percent increase in survival, and improved cardiac output compared to untreated controls or those receiving the same drugs intravenously.

The patch remains intact for several months before dissolving into a thin, biocompatible layer. While neuregulin-1 and VEGF have been tested in human trials, GW788388 is still in preclinical development. The team plans to test the patch in larger animal models and explore future clinical applications. They are also investigating whether the microparticles could be adapted for use in stents, enabling less invasive delivery through blood vessels.