Heart created with 3D printing managed to beat autonomously for a long time

Scientists have been working to produce artificial organs with 3D printing for a long time. According to a new article published, an artificial heart may be soon to be produced. Because the latest news from IT Home revealed that a team of scientists at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany has achieved remarkable success in the field of 3D printing technology.

Heart created with 3D printing managed to beat autonomously for 100 days

Using 3D printing, researchers have successfully created a miniature heart chamber that can beat autonomously for more than 100 days. The groundbreaking experiment involved the use of human cardiomyocytes, collagen and hyaluronic acid to create a unique biological ink. This special ink was then carefully injected into a gel-supported cardiac tissue structure using a nozzle. After pressing, the gel solidified, resulting in the formation of an artificial heart chamber.

A normal human heart consists of four chambers. Scientists, on the other hand, managed to 3D print tiny heart chambers, only 14 millimeters high and 8 millimeters in diameter. These miniature chambers, about one-sixth the size of human heart chambers, displayed remarkable functionality. Because it started beating just a week after printing, and continued beating autonomously for an impressive 100-day period.

In the next step, the researchers aim to inject a second bio-ink into these microchambers. With this innovative approach, the blood vessels in the chambers will be enlarged and will pave the way for the compression of a fully functional heart.

British scientists recently came to the fore by successfully placing a conductive circuit in a living organism using 3D printing. Now, the creation of this artificial heart may indicate that technology will bring breakthrough developments in the field of health.