Scientists Create World's First 3D-Printed Heart Using Patient's Own Cells
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have successfully printed the
world’s first 3D heart using a patient’s own cells and biological
materials to “completely match the immunological, cellular, biochemical,
and anatomical properties of the patient.”
Until now, researchers have only been able to 3D-print simple tissues lacking blood vessels. "This heart is made from human cells and patient-specific biological
materials. In our process these materials serve as the bioinks,
substances made of sugars and proteins that can be used for 3D printing
of complex tissue models," said lead researcher in a statement.
"People have managed to 3D-print the structure of a heart in the past,
but not with cells or with blood vessels. Our results demonstrate the
potential of our approach for engineering personalized tissue and organ
replacement in the future." F,
G) A printed heart within a support bath. H) After extraction, the left
and right ventricles were injected with red and blue dyes,
respectively, in order to demonstrate hollow chambers and the septum
in‐between them. Describing their work, the research team started by taking biopsies of fatty tissues from abdominal structures known as the omentum in
both humans and pigs. The tissue's cellular materials were separated
from those that weren’t and reprogrammed to become pluripotent stem
cells, “master cells”
able to make cells from all three body layers with the potential to
produce any cell or tissue in the body. The team then made the extracellular matrix
– made up of collagen and glycoproteins – into a hydrogel used as the
printing “ink”. Cells were mixed with the hydrogel and then
differentiated into cardiac or endothelial cells (those that line the
interior surface of blood and lymphatic vessels) to create
patient-specific, immune-compatible cardiac patches complete with blood
vessels and, ultimately, an entire heart bioengineered from “native”
patient-specific materials.
Though promising, the team is quick to remind us that their hearts are not yet ready for human transplantation.
"At this stage, our 3D heart is small, the size of a rabbit's heart,"
said the researcher. "But larger human hearts require the same technology."
For starters, creating a human heart would take much longer and
require billions of cells – not just millions. Furthermore, the
cherry-sized hearts don’t necessarily behave like hearts, requiring
researchers to further develop and “train” them to be like human hearts
and form a pumping ability. Currently, the cells can contract but do not
work together.
Regardless, the development is a massive step for the advancement of organ transplantation. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in the US, with heart transplants being the only
treatment available to those with end-stage heart failure. Not only does
a shortage of donors require the development of new strategies, but
creating hearts that jive with a patient’s unique biological makeup
could prevent the risk of rejection.
"The biocompatibility of engineered materials is crucial to
eliminating the risk of implant rejection, which jeopardizes the success
of such treatments," said the researcher. "Ideally, the biomaterial should
possess the same biochemical, mechanical and topographical properties of
the patient's own tissues. Here, we can report a simple approach to
3D-printed thick, vascularized and perfusable cardiac tissues that
completely match the immunological, cellular, biochemical and anatomical
properties of the patient." After “training” the hearts to efficiently pump, the team hopes to transplant them into animals for further testing. Cells
from a patient's omentum tissue are separated and processed into a
personalized thermoresponsive hydrogel. The cells are reprogrammed to
become pluripotent and are then differentiated to cardiomyocytes and
endothelial cells before encapsulation within the hydrogel to generate
the bioinks used for printing. The bioinks are then printed to engineer
vascularized patches and complex cellularized structures.
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This is the story of a medical lady diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Please read, there is great hope for survival too, as your destiny is already decided by the one above ! Tuesday 8th
May is World Ovarian Cancer Day. It’s the one day where we come
together to speak up about an often overlooked disease; a disease that
kills more women than all other gynaecological cancers combined; a
disease I feel that I almost miraculously survived.
‘Miraculously’
because in 2003 I was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer – only 19%
of women who receive that diagnosis today will survive another five
years.
15
years later, as an ovarian cancer survivor I am supporting the
campaigning efforts of research charity Ovarian Cancer Action. To raise
awareness of this devastating illness, on World Ovarian Cancer Day we
will be handing out 7,400 roses across the country with cards on the
stems that describe the main symptoms of ovarian cancer. The number of
roses represents the number of women diagnosed each year with the
disease. At present there is no screening process for ovarian cancer.
Until we have one, the main priority is to educate women on the vague
symptoms of ovarian cancer that do manifest themselves. Awareness is key
if we’re to catch it early; the earlier the condition is diagnosed the
better the outcome.
Nothing
illustrates the truth of this more than the cold fact that a woman has a
90% chance of living for five years if diagnosed at stage 1, but only a
4% chance if diagnosed at stage 4.
As I learnt first-hand, an early diagnosis is a relatively rare thing in the ovarian cancer community.
I
had been a nurse and a midwife but had given up work to bring up our
three children. I was a busy full time mum and as a Christian very
involved in our Church. I believed it was because of this busy lifestyle
that I constantly felt tired. It was only after I recovered from
chemotherapy did I realise how abnormal my fatigue had been. I had also
had one episode of abdominal pain. Things became more serious when I
started bloating. The bloating increased gradually over a few months,
not helped by going on a diet as I initially thought it might be ‘middle
aged spread’. I decided to visit the GP as I thought I might have a
cyst or a fibroid.
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The
GP immediately thought I was pregnant. As I had been a midwife and had
had three children I knew I wasn’t but he insisted that I did a
pregnancy test. It was only the negative result that convinced him. At
this point he ordered an urgent ultrasound scan. The scan revealed a
tumour on both ovaries with cancer spots on my bowel, bladder and
omentum. I was told that I would have a full hysterectomy followed by
six sessions of chemotherapy.
Even
though I had been in the medical profession the news came as a real
shock. I was in a low risk category for cancer: 40 years old, a
non-smoker who did moderate exercise.
At
the time, I didn’t know of anyone that had survived ovarian cancer - my
aunt had died of ovarian cancer (although there was no genetic link).
The diagnosis was stage three ovarian cancer so I knew this was
advanced and that the survival rates weren’t very good. But my
consultant used to say, “I deal with individuals, not statistics.”
I
knew that the medical profession would do all that they could but when I
asked my husband honestly, “Do they think I’m going to die?” he
answered, “They don’t know”.
Even
now there are many women who don’t make it. This is why I have become a
‘Voice’ (someone who raises awareness of ovarian cancer) for Ovarian
Cancer Action. With one woman dying every two hours of ovarian cancer
in the UK something needs to be done. It is 15 years since I was
diagnosed and I’ve been discharged from medical care for eight years,
which I never thought would happen. As a Voice I give awareness talks
in Wales, where survival rates are some of the poorest in the UK. I also
raise money for research through cake sales, and generally support
women going through treatment and beyond.
I
am so grateful that I am well and able to hopefully be an encouragement
and offer hope to women being diagnosed with the disease now.
On World Ovarian Cancer Day, I hope lots of women pick up a rose and get to know the symptoms of ovarian cancer.
THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE
HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.
PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN
RECIPES ARE FREE TO
VIEW MY BLOG-
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-
https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/
FOR
CROCHET DESIGNS
https://my crochet creations.blogspot.com
