Zurich: A Swiss research team announced on Saturday the creation of a 3D-printed cardiac patch capable of repairing damaged heart tissue following a heart attack.
According to Jordan News Agency, scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and Zurich University Hospital said the patch consists of a thin mesh that covers the affected area, a polymer frame able to withstand blood pressure and gradually dissolve inside the body, and a gel infused with living heart muscle cells that grow and merge with the surrounding tissue until the artificial frame fully disappears.
Professor Robert Katzschmann, one of the team leaders, said the aim was not only to close the gap but also to completely restore the damaged tissue. He expressed hope the breakthrough would pave the way for implantable cardiac patches in humans that could both repair and regenerate the heart muscle. The team is continuing to refine the material and is testing it on animals in preparation for human clinical trials.