The First 3D-Printed Heart Made From Real Human Tissue

Scientists have always hoped that one day we could create artificial hearts which can be implanted into the human body to save patient lives. The research team from Tel Aviv University in Israel has brought us closer to achieving this goal. The research published in Advanced Science on Monday showed that the team succeeded in using human blood vessels and tissues to make a 3D-printed heart. Although the heart is just about the size of a rabbit's heart, it is still a breakthrough for the medical field.

Professor Tal Dvir, who led the study, said:

3D printing technology has brought a lot of potentials for the medical field. For example, the University of Minnesota's scientists have made a transparent mouse skull to look into brain activity, and scientists from University of Toronto are currently developing 3D printed skin to heal wounds.

To make a blueprint for tissue models, fatty tissue was extracted from patients and functioned as the "ink" in the 3D printing process. However, they still have many problems to deal with because currently this artificial heart can do nothing but contracting. The team intends to put these hearts into tests in animal models.

Dvir said: