Fabrication and Characterization of Electrospun Cardiac Patches Functionalized with Microbiota-Derived Postbiotics and Decellularized Neonatal Porcine Myocardial Extracellular Matrix for Cardiac Repair

Abstract

Myocardial infarction remains a leading cause of heart failure owing to the limited regenerative capacity of adult cardiac tissue, underscoring the need for biomimetic therapeutic platforms that combine structural support with biological functionality. Accordingly, this study aimed to develop a multifunctional electrospun cardiac patch by integrating decellularized neonatal porcine myocardial extracellular matrix (dECM), gelatin, and microbiota-derived postbiotics for cardiac tissue engineering. The fabricated patches were comprehensively characterized in terms of their morphology, mechanical properties, biodegradation behavior, antibacterial activity, antioxidant capacity, and in vitro biocompatibility. Postbiotics derived from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum EIR/IF-1 exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, strong antioxidant capacity, and significant anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of pro-inflammatory mediators and upregulation of IL-10 expression. Moreover, they protected H9c2 cardiomyoblasts from oxidative stress, promoted COL1A1 expression, and supported ECM remodeling. The fabricated electrospun cardiac patches exhibited a homogeneous nanofibrous architecture, mechanically suitable properties (Young’s modulus ~4 MPa), controlled biodegradation over 7 days, favorable cell viability, and maintained the biological functionality of the incorporated postbiotics. Overall, the synergistic integration of tissue-specific dECM and microbiota-derived postbiotics yielded a multifunctional biohybrid cardiac patch with favorable structural and biological properties, supporting its potential as a promising platform for myocardial regeneration and next-generation cardiac tissue engineering.