| abstract |
A medical condition associated with a cardiac structure is treated by injecting an injectable polymer agent into the cardiac structure such that a therapeutic mechanical scaffolding is formed within the cardiac structure itself. In particular, the injectable scaffolding agent is a fibrin glue agent and is injected into regions of damaged myocardium such as ischemic tissue or infarct. LV wall dysfunction may also be treated by injecting the scaffolding agent into the LV wall. Cell therapy may be combined with the injection of fibrin glue or other injectable polymer scaffold agent. The polymeric forms of the agent may be injectable as precursor materials that polymerize as a scaffold in-situ within the cardiac structure. In other modes, polymer agents are injected in order to provide therapeutic angiogenesis, or to induce deposition of cells within the injected area, such as by providing the polymer with fragment E or RDG binding sites, respectively. |