Israeli researchers print 3D a small heart with blood vessels and chambers

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have 3D printed a heart using the cells of a patient in just three hours. However, the print is only 2.5 centimeters, about the same size as the heart of a rabbit.

Although this heart is too small for a human being, it is an interesting development because it marks the first time that a heart is printed with ventricles, cavities and blood vessels.

The researchers' work was published in an article in the journal Advanced Science.

"This heart is made from human cells and patient-specific biological materials," said Professor Tal Dvir, head of the team, at the Express. "In our process, these materials serve as organic inks, sugar-based substances and proteins that can be used for 3D printing of complex tissue models."

The researchers explain that previous attempts at 3D printing of a heart did not have the necessary blood vessels to function and that they represented only simple tissues. Because of this breakthrough, researchers believe that 3D printed hearts could be available for transplant in the next ten years.

3D printing of a heart – blood vessels, ventricles and others

In order to print the heart, the researchers began by taking adipose tissue from a patient. They then separated this into non-cellular and cellular components before reprogramming the cells to become stem cells.

The obtained stem cells can then be transformed into cardiac cells and the non-cellular components are used as bio ink gel. It only took three hours to print the heart in a small container. The resulting small print will take about a month to mature before it can beat, says Dvir.

Once this process is complete, the next step is to test the animal prints. Finally, the researchers hope that their work will help reduce the need for waiting lists for organ transplants and organ rejections, because the print would be fully personalized and made from the patient's cells.

Though hearts are never as sophisticated as the heart of the human being, Dvir says that "Maybe by printing patches, we can improve or eliminate the diseased areas of the heart and replace them with something that works."

To learn more about medical innovations using 3D printing, check out these stories:

Source: Bloomberg