The decline in cardiac contractility due to damage or loss of cardiomyocytes is intensified by changes in the extracellular matrix leading to heart remodeling. An excessive matrix response in the ischemic cardiomyopathy may contribute to the elevated fibrotic compartment and diastolic dysfunction. Fibroproliferation is a defense response aimed at quickly closing the damaged area and maintaining tissue integrity. Balance in this process is of paramount importance, as the reduced post-infarction response causes scar thinning and more pronounced left ventricular remodeling, while excessive fibrosis leads to impairment of heart function. Under normal conditions, migration of progenitor cells to the lesion site occurs. These cells have the potential to differentiate into myocytes in vitro, but the changed micro-environment in the heart after infarction does not allow such differentiation. Stem cell transplantation affects the extracellular matrix remodeling and thus may facilitate the improvement of left ventricular function. Studies show that mesenchymal stem cell therapy after infarct reduces fibrosis. However, the authors did not specify whether they meant the reduction of scarring as a result of regeneration or changes in the matrix. Research is also necessary to rule out long-term negative effects of post-acute infarct stem cell therapy.

Liposomal technologies are used in order to improve the effectiveness of current therapies or to reduce their negative side effects. However, the liposome–erythrocyte interaction during the intravenous administration of liposomal drug formulations may result in changes within the red blood cells (RBCs). In this study, it was shown that phosphatidylcholine-composed liposomal formulations of Photolon, used as a drug model, significantly influences the transmembrane potential, stiffness, as well as the shape of RBCs. These changes caused decreasing the number of stomatocytes and irregular shapes proportion within the cells exposed to liposomes. Thus, the reduction of anisocytosis was observed. Therefore, some nanodrugs in phosphatidylcholine liposomal formulation may have a beneficial effect on the survival time of erythrocytes.

Long-term high fat-carbohydrates diet (HF-CD) contributes to the formation of irreversible changes in the organism that lead to the emergence of civilization diseases. In this study, the impact of three-month high-fat diet on the physical properties of erythrocytes (RBCs) was studied. Furthermore, the biological activity of Cistus incanus L. extracts, plant known with high pro-health potential, in relation to normal and HF-CD RBCs, was determined. Obtained results have shown that, applied HF-CD modified shape, membrane potential and osmotic resistance of erythrocytes causing changes in membrane lipid composition and the distribution of lipids. The impact of HF-CD on physical properties of RBCs along with atherosclerotic lesions of the artery was visible, despite the lack of statistically significant changes in blood morphology and plasma lipid profile. This suggests that erythrocytes may be good markers of obesity-related diseases. The studies of biological activity of Cistus incanus L. extracts have demonstrated that they may ameliorate the effect of HF-CD on erythrocytes through the membrane-modifying and antioxidant activity.