Microneedle patch offers breakthrough in improving heart attack recovery: Study shows - Video

A new biodegradable microneedle patch developed by researchers at Texas A&M University offers exciting hope for healing heart tissue damaged by heart attacks. Led by Dr. Ke Huang, the research team engineered a tiny patch covered in microscopic needles filled with interleukin-4 (IL-4), a molecule known to regulate immune cells.

When applied directly onto the heart, the dissolvable microneedles release IL-4 right into the injured area, promoting repair and reducing harmful scarring while limiting side effects elsewhere in the body. Their findings were published in Cell Biomaterials.

Heart attacks cause oxygen deprivation, leading to cell death and scar tissue formation that weakens heart function over time. Dr. Huang explained that the patch works by shifting macrophages-immune cells involved in inflammation-from a damaging state to one that supports healing. This immune switch limits scar buildup and encourages better recovery of the heart’s muscle.

The researchers created the patch using biodegradable materials sturdy enough to penetrate the heart’s outer layer but designed to dissolve quickly and safely, releasing IL-4 precisely where needed. In preclinical tests, the patch effectively changed immune behavior in the heart and reduced signs of tissue damage without showing harm to healthy cells.

Interestingly, the therapy also enhanced communication between heart muscle cells and blood vessel cells, supporting longer-term healing. The patch reduced inflammatory signals from endothelial cells lining blood vessels and activated pathways that promote vascular health and heart function.

While the current patch requires open-chest surgery for placement, Dr. Huang hopes to develop minimally invasive versions deployable through small tubes, making treatment more accessible. Collaborating with AI specialists, the team is also creating models to optimize immune responses and guide future therapies.

This novel microneedle patch represents a promising leap forward in heart attack recovery, aiming to improve patient outcomes with targeted, smart drug delivery directly into damaged heart tissue.

REFERENCE: Ke Huang, Dashuai Zhu, Jennifer Soto, Shiqi Hu, Jun Fang, Joyce Huang, Xuexiang Zhang, Junlang Li, Yuan Li, Panagiotis Tasoudis, Shuo Liu, Xuan Mei, Tyler Hoffman, Thomas G. Caranasos, Cunjiang Yu, Zhen Gu, Song Li, Ke Cheng. Immunomodulatory microneedle patch for cardiac repair in rodent and porcine models of myocardial infarction. Cell Biomaterials, 2025; 1 (9): 100152 DOI: 10.1016/j.celbio.2025.100152