Researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel have developed a 3D printing approach to create a heart with a patient’s own cells. The investigators used patient-derived cellular and acellular material obtained from fatty tissue, along with a unique bioprinter, to 3D-print a heart.
The team isolated cells from a patient tissue sample and used genetic reprogramming to turn them into cardiac and vascular cells. They then used the acellular materials from the patient sample to create bioinks. Using patient-derived cells and acellular tissue material ensures the 3D-printed graft is not rejected by the patient’s immune system.
The researchers demonstrated that they used patient materials to create bioinks, and that their high-resolution 3D-printer can reconstruct a heart, complete with valves and blood vessels. The researchers also demonstrated that they could use computer algorithms to pattern the blood vessels, and improve oxygen delivery to bulk tissues, which can help heart tissue live longer and perform more effectively. The system demonstrates printing with patient-derived materials, and represents an important advance in tissue engineering.
The publication in Advance Science: 3D Printing of Personalized Thick and Perfusable Cardiac Patches and Hearts…
Via: Tel Aviv University…