Here is the first 3D printed heart made from real human tissue

Scientists hope that one day we will be able to make hearts that can be transplanted to humans. A team of researchers from the Tel Aviv University in Israel has brought this goal closer to a reality.

The team managed to print a 3D heart on human tissues and vessels, according to their article published in Advanced Science Monday. Although the heart is not the real size – it is about the size of a rabbit heart – it still marks a breakthrough, according to the team.

"This is the first time anyone has been able to design and print a complete heart filled with cells, blood vessels, ventricles and chambers," Professor Tal Dvir, who led the team, told the local press. "People have managed to 3D print the structure of a heart in the past, but not with cells or blood vessels."

Scientists have found many medical uses of 3D printing technology in recent years. Researchers at the University of Toronto are working on the use of this technology to print the skin on woundsand the University of Minnesota has developed a transparent mouse skull this helps his researchers to better understand the brain activity.

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3D human tissue printing

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The Tel Aviv team extracted fatty tissue from patients and used them as "ink" for 3D printing, a template for creating tissue models. Although they still have some problems to solve – the heart can contract but not suck the blood – they eventually plan to test hearts printed in 3D on animal models.

"Perhaps, in 10 years, there will be organ printers in the best hospitals in the world, and these procedures will be performed routinely," said Dvir.