An Anisotropic and Stable-Conductance Patch for Mechanical–Electrical Coupling With Infarcted Myocardium

Yimeng Li; Yuchen Miao; Leqian Wei; Wenxin Li; Mengqi Shan; Qianqian Jiang; Fujun Wang; Lu Wang; Ze Zhang; Jizhou Song; Yang Zhu; Jifu Mao

doi:10.1002/EXP.20250021

Exploration ›› 2025, Vol. 5 ›› Issue (6) :20250021 DOI: 10.1002/EXP.20250021

RESEARCH ARTICLE

An Anisotropic and Stable-Conductance Patch for Mechanical–Electrical Coupling With Infarcted Myocardium

Yimeng Li ¹^,²^,³^,⁴
, Yuchen Miao ⁵
, Leqian Wei ¹^,²^,³
, Wenxin Li ¹^,²^,³
, Mengqi Shan ¹^,²^,³
, Qianqian Jiang ⁶
, Fujun Wang ¹^,²^,³
, Lu Wang ¹^,²^,³
, Ze Zhang ⁷^,⁸
, Jizhou Song ⁶
, Yang Zhu ⁵^,⁹
, Jifu Mao ¹^,²^,³

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¹. Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Advanced Textiles, College of Lextiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, China

². Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, China

³. Key Laboratory of Textile Industry for Biomedical Textile Materials and Technology, Donghua University, Shanghai, China

⁴. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai, China

⁵. MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

⁶. Key Laboratory of Soft Machines and Smart Devices of Zhejiang Province, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

⁷. Département de Chirurgie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

⁸. Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

⁹. State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Hangzhou, China

zhuyang@zju.edu.cn

jifu.mao@dhu.edu.cn

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Abstract

Polymeric conductive patches have conventionally been employed to facilitate the repair of infarcted myocardium by enhancing myocardial electrical conduction and providing mechanical support. However, it remains a challenge to restore the electrical conduction and diastolic–systolic functions with stable and anisotropic mechanical and electrical cues in the dynamic physiological environment. Herein, inspired by the hierarchical myocardial fiber microscopic striated structure, we established a weaving-based processing method to compound a striated polypyrrole conductive coating on the surface of highly oriented elastic fiber bundles. This unique design endows the patch with exceptional stretchability (elongation at break > 400%), stable conductance (ΔR/R₀ = 0.04 within 20% strain), and excellent fatigue resistance (ΔR/R₀ = 0.01 after 1,000,000 cycles). In addition, the precision process grounded on woven molding accomplished the tunable mechanical and electrical properties of the patch, which facilitates the achievement of long-term, stable, and anisotropic mechanical–electrical coupling with the infarcted myocardium. The rat MI model experiments demonstrated that this anisotropic conductive patch can not only improve cardiac function and electrical activity over an extended period, but also effectively inhibit myocardial inflammation and fibrosis and promote angiogenesis. This study proposes a promising MI-treatment patch and highlights the potential of woven technology in processing biomaterials composed of both rigid and elastic materials.

Keywords

anisotropic / bionic hierarchical structure / cardiac repair / mechanical–electrical coupling / stretchable

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Yimeng Li, Yuchen Miao, Leqian Wei, Wenxin Li, Mengqi Shan, Qianqian Jiang, Fujun Wang, Lu Wang, Ze Zhang, Jizhou Song, Yang Zhu, Jifu Mao. An Anisotropic and Stable-Conductance Patch for Mechanical–Electrical Coupling With Infarcted Myocardium. Exploration, 2025, 5(6): 20250021 DOI:10.1002/EXP.20250021

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