Cellular cardiomyoplasty: current state of the field

Cellular cardiomyoplasty employs stem cell therapy to regenerate myocardium. Characterized by their potential for proliferation, differentiation and capacity for self-renewal, stem cells are ideally suited for use in regenerative medicine. Supplementing traditional therapeutic modalities aimed at the palliation of congestive heart failure, cellular cardiomyoplasty is an innovative approach aimed at producing functional, viable myocardium following an acute infarction. The primary focus is to prevent the onset of congestive heart failure; however, potential applications aimed at reversing ischemic heart disease are concurrently in development. After decades of research, cellular cardiomyoplasty has moved beyond traditional in vitro and animal models; it is currently being implemented in clinical trials. Despite this monumental advance, certain limitations remain inherent in this process, preventing stem cell therapy from reaching its full potential. On a cellular level, stem cell retention and viability po...