Regenerative Cardiology: Emerging Hopes Towards Restoring the Heart Publisher



F Ghanbari FATEMEH ; N Naderi NASIM ; Sk Rabbani Shahram KARIMI ; Av Farahani Ali VASHEGHANI ; H Ghanbari HOSSEIN
Source: Journal of Contemporary Medical Sciences Published:2025

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases, particularly myocardial infarction and heart failure, continue to affect the lives of millions and pose significant global health challenges. Despite all efforts, a definitive cure to prevent the progression of heart disease has remained elusive, and all current therapies fail to address the root issue: the negligible regenerative capacity of the adult human heart. For over twenty years, regenerative cardiology has sought to overcome this deficit by taking cues from naturally regenerating species such as zebrafish, and by integrating diverse therapeutic modalities—including cell-based therapies, cell-free and direct reprogramming approaches, biomaterial-assisted tissue engineering, and others—to restore myocardial structure and function following injury. This review aims to provide an overview of the latest progress in the field with particular attention to the potential advantages and the main challenges and limitations of the emerging regenerative strategies. While significant challenges remain, continued interdisciplinary research holds great promise for translating regenerative approaches into available clinical practice for ischemic heart disease and heart failure. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.