A new study published in the journal Circulation Research discusses using 3D printing to repair damaged heart tissue that occurs after a heart attack, or some sort of other cardiac trauma. Heart disease is a huge problem, especially in the United States (likely because of our diets, but perhaps there are other confounding factors).
The technology discussed in the publication involves what is known as "BioPrinting" whereby the researchers utilize lasers to selectively place stemcells into a scaffold (the remnants of tissue when all the cellular components have been removed, think of these scaffolds as like a protein/sugar mesh that cellular insides can fill). They do this to create living beating heart tissue, in a petri dish. This tissue can then be placed right onto the damaged section of a heart.
In this study the researchers used damaged mouse hearts and quickly observed an increase in cardiac function (in as little as 4 weeks!)
Read More Here:
https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/3d-printed-patch-can-help-mend-broken-heart
Image Source: [1]