Harvard’s Scientists 3D-Print A Functional Piece Of A Heart
The scientists have 3D printed hearts using silicone and even the patient’s own cells, but they don’t match the full functionality of the real thing and aren’t very good for heart repair. However, there is some progress, the scientists at the Harvard Wyss Institute have developed a method to 3D print long cardiac macrofilaments that turn into muscle filaments that contract. This technique mimics the complex alignment of the contracting elements of the heart while creating tissue thick enough to be used in cardiac regenerative treatments.
The system is an improvement on the existing Wyss SWIFT bioprinting technology. Their approach created a platform with 1050 wells, each with two microscopic posts. The scientists filled the wells with human-induced pluripotent stem cells, as well as the protein collagen and cells used to form connective tissue.The combination forms a dense tissue that aligns along the axis connecting the micropillars.
The team then lifts the resulting organ building blocks off the pillars, uses them to create bioprinting ink, and uses the movement of the 3D printer head to further help with the alignment. While the technology offers relatively high performance, there is still a lot of work to be done before a fully functional 3D printed organic heart is available. 3D-printed filaments could be used to replace scars after heart attacks or to create improved models of diseases. They could even patch holes in newborns with congenital heart defects and grow up with these children.
