3D printing of heart muscle cells

Heart cells under the microscope.

The realization of the dream of 3D-printing of heart tissue has become a step closer, thanks to the development of scientists from the Heart Research Institute (HRI), Sydney, Australia.

The article by Sophie Scott from abc.net.au is translated for you by Top 3D Shop .

Key points:
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• Scientists hope that artificial tissues will be able to replace those damaged during heart attacks;
• The cells behave like real, they fight and move;
• The researchers hope that the technology will be available to patients over the next five years.

Scientists use a new bioprinter to print cells that, according to them, can replace damaged heart cells in a patient.

“The process will look something like this: when a patient enters the clinic, a sample of tissue is taken from him, namely, the skin from which we extract cells. Based on them, stem cells are first generated, and from them are heart cells, ”
- says Dr. Carmine Gentile.

Living stem cells are printed on a substrate that will “stick” directly to the patient’s damaged heart during an attack.

Cells created by the Research Institute of the heart, are reduced together - "beat" like a real heart.


In the picture: heart cells grown from a sample of guinea pig tissue.

“They act like a real heart. We were able to make this amazing discovery in our laboratory ",
Said Dr. Gentile.

The success of the project can radically change the approach of doctors to the treatment of people with heart attacks. Now patients after a heart attack are treated with angioplasty - to expand the blocked or constricted coronary arteries, a metal mesh balloon that is embedded in them is used, which prevents the artery from sticking together and allows blood to circulate. Also, doctors use reperfusion therapy - prescribe drugs that destroy blocking arteries clots. But this treatment is not suitable for all patients, according to cardiologist Jemma Figtree of the Colling Institute.


3D-printer of the Institute for Heart Research.

“We don’t know what to replace the healed muscle or what to use for heart regeneration. Currently, this is just one of the methods for studying the cardiovascular system, and this is only the first potential solution ” ,
- she said.

A bioprinter developed in Australia can be a salvation for such patients. Associate Professor Figtri believes that eventually the heart can be restored.

"By replacing dead heart muscle with an effective patch, we can reduce heart failure, it will reduce shortness of breath and improve the quality of life for patients."

According to statistics, there are 350,000 people who have experienced a heart attack in Australia.
Despite improvements in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, 24 people are killed every day in Australia.

Artificial body for drug testing

Experts in the field of cardiology believe that the heart created with the help of 3D printing can be used to individually test drugs for compatibility with specific patients from whose cells tissue samples were taken.

Dr. Gentil says that side effects can be tested on an artificial organ:
"This is an amazing find, we will be able in a very short time to identify the side effects that people may have . "

Researchers hope that innovative therapy will be available to patients over the next five years.

What do you think of it? Share your opinion in the comments.