Scientists Print First 3D Heart Using Human Tissue & It’s Amazing

A team of researchers have printed the world's first 3D heart complete with blood vessels, ventricles and chambers.

The organ, which was made using human cells and biological material, was created by researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel.

Professor Tal Dvir, who led the study, said: "This is the first time anyone anywhere has successfully engineered and printed an entire heart replete with cells, blood vessels, ventricles and chambers."

PA/ Ilia Yefimovich

The groundbreaking research could go a long way to tackling the shortage of heart donors around the world. For many who experience end-stage heart failure, a donation of the vital organ is often their only chance at survival, and many sadly die while waiting.

According to the NHS, there are currently over 6,000 people in the UK waiting for a heart transplant. For those that are accepted on to the waiting list, around half receive a transplant within three years.

"People have managed to 3D-print the structure of a heart in the past, but not with cells or with blood vessels. Our results demonstrate the potential of our approach for engineering personalised tissue and organ replacement in the future," Dvir said.

PA/ Ilia Yefimovich

For the research, fatty tissue was taken from the patient, before the cellular and a-cellular tissue was separated. These cells were then programmed to become pluripotent stem cells which would then be differentiated into cardiac or endothelial cells. These cells were then mixed with bio-ink which was then 'printed' the vascularised heart.

The heart - revealed on Monday - is the size of a rabbit's, but the professors say that a larger human heart could be produced with the same technology in the future.

Dvir says the next step is to train the hearts to act as human hearts. Researchers will start this process by implanting the hearts into animals in the hope that within "10 years, there will be organ printers in the finest hospitals around the world, and these procedures will be conducted routinely."

This development follows recent changes to the organ donation law in England. From spring 2020, all adults in the country will be considered to have consented to be an organ donor when they die unless they had recorded a decision to 'opt-out'. This has also be referred to as 'Max and Keira's Law'.

Topics: Science, Life News, Health

Ciara Sheppard

Ciara is a freelance journalist working for Tyla. After graduating from the University of Sussex, Ciara worked as a writer at GLAMOUR Magazine and later as the Assistant Editor of Yahoo Style UK.

@ciarasheppard