A groundbreaking study published in Nature Materials on June 13, 2025, led by Assistant Professor Jennifer Young from the National University of Singapore, explores the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in heart aging.

The research focuses on the ECM, which supports heart cells and influences their function through biochemical signals, rather than solely on the cells themselves.

As the heart ages, the ECM becomes stiffer and its composition changes, leading to negative effects such as scarring and reduced heart function.

To address these issues, the team developed a hybrid biomaterial named DECIPHER, which combines natural heart tissue with a synthetic gel to better simulate ECM properties.

Using DECIPHER, researchers found that aged heart cells placed on scaffolds mimicking 'young' ECM exhibited improved behavior, underscoring the importance of biochemical signals over stiffness.

Conversely, young heart cells exposed to 'aged' ECM demonstrated dysfunction, highlighting the dual influence of ECM signals on different cell types.

These findings suggest that restoring youthful biochemical signals in aging hearts could potentially reverse damage and enhance heart function.

Moreover, the DECIPHER method may be applicable to other tissues affected by aging and diseases, potentially benefiting organs such as the kidneys and skin.

The research opens new avenues for therapies targeting ECM changes, offering a promising approach to preserve heart health and combat age-related diseases.

Overall, this innovative biomaterial could play a crucial role in slowing down or reversing the effects of heart aging by altering the cellular environment.

By independently controlling stiffness and biochemical signals, DECIPHER addresses a key challenge in studying heart aging.