Abstract
Repairing cardiac tissue remains one of the most challenging goals in tissue engineering. Here, we discuss ways whereby we sought to treat myocardial infarctions using extracellular-matrix derived peptides. Using an ischemia/reperfusion myocardial infarction rodent model, we targeted these extracellular matrix-derived peptides to the myocardial infarct site and were able to induce angiogenesis and alter the negative remodeling seen after an acute myocardial infarction. Our results indicate a potentially new strategy for repairing damaged tissue.