Graphene Nanosheets Mediate Efficient Direct Reprogramming into Induced Cardiomyocytes

Abstract

In vivo cardiac reprogramming is a potential therapeutic strategy to replace cardiomyocytes in patients with myocardial infarction. However, low conversion efficiency is a limitation of in vivo cardiac reprogramming for heart failure. In this study, we showed that graphene nanosheets mediated efficient direct reprogramming into induced cardiomyocytes in vivo. We observed that the administration of graphene nanosheets led to the accumulation of H3K4me3, which resulted in direct cardiac reprogramming. Importantly, the administration of graphene nanosheets combined with cardiac reprogramming factors in a mouse model of myocardial infarction enhanced the effectiveness of directly reprogrammed cell-based cardiac repair. Collectively, our findings suggest that graphene nanosheets can be used as an excellent biomaterial to promote cardiac cell fate conversion and provide a robust reprogramming platform for cardiac regeneration in ischemic heart disease.