Researchers at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) have created a vascularized cardiac patch that survives and beats for at least a month after implantation in an animal model.
Previous attempts to regenerate cardiac tissue with in vivo cultivated patches failed due to a lack of vascularization, causing the cells to die shortly after implantation. However, the researchers combined two different bio-inks, one with vascular microfragments and another with cardiomyocytes, to incorporate tiny vessels directly into the patch's structure using 3D bio-printing.
The inclusion of this vascular network was key to its success, allowing the bio-printed tissue to integrate into the host's circulatory system, enabling beating, and preventing necrosis for at least a month, far exceeding previous survival limits.
The patch not only beats but also matures and grows within the animal. Researchers observed and recorded how the myocardium generates new blood vessels and maintains functionality after a month. The next step is to translate these advances to larger animal models, with trials in pigs planned for September.
Researchers are confident that this bio-printed approach could revolutionize the treatment of heart failure and heart attacks, providing real patches capable of restoring heart function beyond current treatments. This advance builds on recent research on vascularized cardiac patches, highlighting their potential for myocardial regeneration and improved cardiac function after a heart attack.