Figure 6. Infarcted heart after intracoronary injection of calcium cross-linked alginate solution.

120 min after injection, the alginate hydrogel was identified on the infarct surface (A) (arrows). Heart sections revealed hemorrhagic infarct and in situ deposition of the alginate hydrogel (white areas, arrows) and consistent distribution of the biomaterial in the granulation tissue (B). Increased thickness of the scar (black arrows) was induced by alginate implant 60 days after (C & D). Infarcted hearts after immunostaining for α-SMA, 3 months after alginate (E) or saline injection (F). Smooth muscle actin positive myofibroblasts were predominantly observed when alginate was injected to scar area. Reprinted with permission from [65].