A heart patch from a 3D printer
3D-printed cardiac patch engineered to match the mechanical properties of the heart.
A novel heart patch could help prolong the life of human hearts damaged by heart attacks.
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Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year, according to the World Health Organisation. A novel 3D-printed heart patch, developed by ETH Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich, could improve the healing process. According to a press release, this patch can close defective areas in the heart and heal them.
Complete integration into the heart tissue
In current practice, heart defects are treated with bovine pericardial patches (BPPs) following a heart attack. While these are stable and easy to implant, they are biologically inactive and remain in the heart as foreign bodies permanently. Risks include calcification, thrombosis and inflammation. The research team has therefore set the goal of developing a biologically active patch that integrates completely into heart tissue.
The patch from the 3D printer
According to the researchers, the RCPatch (Reinforced Cardiac Patch) consists of three elements that work together: a fine-mesh sealing net that sits directly on the defect; a 3D-printed support scaffold in the form of a lattice structure made of degradable polymers; and a hydrogel that promotes tissue growth and is populated with living heart cells. The lattice structure is manufactured using 3D printing and filled with hydrogel, which is also applied to the mesh. Once the patch is in place in the heart, it grows together with the surrounding tissue. The support scaffold then dissolves completely, leaving no foreign material behind.
Successful preclinical tests
In studies involving pig models, the RCPatch was able to successfully seal an artificially created defect in the left ventricle. The patch withstood the high pressure in the heart.. It also prevented bleeding and contributed to restoring heart function, making it far more promising than conventional BPP patches.
Previous heart patches do not integrate into the tissue and remain permanently in the body. With our patch, we wanted to solve this problem and create onethat integrates into the existing heart tissue
Further development for use in human patients
The promising results, recently published in the journal Advanced Materials, provide a solid foundation for further development towards human medical applications. The researchers' long-term goal is to develop a mechanically reinforced, tissue-based, implantable heart patch to treat myocardial damage. However, extensive evaluation is required, and the next phase will involve longer-term animal testing to analyse stability and regeneration comprehensively.