Scientists in Israel unveiled a 3D print of a heart with human tissue and vessels on Monday, calling it a first and a “major medical breakthrough” that advances possibilities for transplants.
While it remains a far way off, scientists hope one day to be able to produce hearts suitable for transplant into humans as well as patches to regenerate defective hearts.
The heart produced by researchers at Tel Aviv University is about the size of a rabbit’s.
It marked “the first time anyone anywhere has successfully engineered and printed an entire heart replete with cells, blood vessels, ventricles and chambers,” said Tal Dvir, who led the project.
“People have managed to 3D-print the structure of a heart in the past, but not with cells or with blood vessels,” he said.
Israeli scientists revealed the world's first 3D-printed heart, which was created using a patient’s own cells!
This medical breakthrough provides great hope and opens future possibilities for patients around the world who suffer from heart-disease ❤🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/NTERs82yUy
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) April 15, 2019
But the scientists said many challenges remain before fully working 3D printed hearts would be available for transplant into patients.
Journalists were shown a 3D print of a heart about the size of a cherry, immersed in liquid, at Tel Aviv University on Monday as the researchers announced their findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Science.
Researchers must now teach the printed hearts “to behave” like real ones. The cells are currently able to contract, but do not yet have the ability to pump.
Then they plan to transplant them into animal models, hopefully in about a year, said Dvir.
“Maybe, in 10 years, there will be organ printers in the finest hospitals around the world, and these procedures will be conducted routinely,” he said.
Israel scientists unveil 'first' 3D print of heart with human tissue, vessels.
📸 Jack Guez #AFPhttps://t.co/tY2PZ172aP pic.twitter.com/e477JB1XUn— AFP Photo (@AFPphoto) April 15, 2019
But he said hospitals would likely start with simpler organs than hearts.
In its statement announcing the research, Tel Aviv University called it a “major medical breakthrough”.
Source: Times of Israel