Hydrogen-Releasing Bacteria Gel Injected Into the Heart Repairs Damage After Heart Attack
An injectable hydrogen-producing bacteria hydrogel for cardiac repair in rodent and porcine models
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
- Evidence type
- Animal study (pig)
- Authors
- Li Luo, Yingxian Xiao, Qiaocong Lao, Jiacong Ai, Xiaohan Zhou, Gang Wang, Yichuan Ma, Shiqi Hu, Dashuai Zhu, Jinchao Zhang, Ke Cheng, Zhenhua Li
- Journal
- Nature Biomedical Engineering
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41551-026-01700-z
- Study Type
- Pig
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
- Body System
- Cardiovascular
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
An injectable hydrogel containing hydrogen-producing photosynthetic bacteria reduced heart ischemia-reperfusion injury in a porcine model.
Key Finding
An injectable gel containing hydrogen-producing bacteria reduced heart damage from ischemia-reperfusion injury in rodent and pig models by sustaining hydrogen production and protecting mitochondrial function.
Summary
Researchers developed an injectable gel containing hydrogen-producing bacteria that could be injected into heart tissue damaged by lack of blood flow followed by blood flow restoration (a condition called ischemia-reperfusion injury). When exposed to light, the bacteria produced hydrogen gas, which reduced harmful oxygen molecules and protected the heart's energy-producing structures (mitochondria). The treatment reduced heart damage in both rodents and pigs.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research in animal models only, with no human testing yet. While the results suggest a novel approach to delivering hydrogen therapy for heart injury, it remains unclear whether this bacterial gel method would be safe or effective in humans, and it requires light exposure to work—a significant practical limitation for clinical use.
Abstract (excerpt)
Cardioprotective effects of current therapies for mitigating ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury have had limited success. The major challenge is to effectively control oxidative stress while preserving mitochondrial function in a timely manner. Hydrogen (H2) selectively reduces cytotoxic oxygen…