The following is via NoCamels.com:
Israeli researchers have created a real heart using their innovative process at the Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine led by Professor Tal Dvir, an associate professor at Tel Aviv University’s Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology.
“This is the first time anyone anywhere has successfully engineered and printed an entire heart complete with cells, blood vessels, ventricles and chambers,” Professor Dvir said in a press briefing on Monday at the university.
The process involved taking a biopsy of fatty tissue, after which the cellular and a-cellular materials were then separated. While the cells were reprogrammed to become pluripotent stem cells and efficiently differentiated to cardiac or endothelial cells, the extracellular matrix (ECM), a three-dimensional network of extracellular macromolecules, such as collagen and glycoproteins, were processed into a personalized hydrogel that served as the printing “ink.”
The differentiated cells were then mixed with the bio-inks and were used to 3D-print patient-specific, immune-compatible cardiac patches with blood vessels and, subsequently, an entire, tiny heart.
The scientific breakthrough may blaze a trail in the medical world, paving the way for a potential revolution in organ and tissue transplantation.
READ MORE: NoCamels.com
Tel Aviv University Scientists Print First 3D Heart Using Patient’s Own Cells. For the first time ever Israeli scientists have created a vascularized human heart that fully matches the properties of a human patient.This is a major breakthrough and great news for world medicine 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/bdtTLfpp0Q
— Emmanuel Nahshon (@EmmanuelNahshon) April 15, 2019
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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One of the leading researchers on this project said that it’s at best several years off before this might be viable for humans. There will have to be extensive experimenting on animals first. Nevertheless, if it does actually work, iy”H, it’ll be a revolution in the treatment of many serious health conditions such as heart, liver, or kidney disease.