The researchers used a bioprinter to create miniature ventricles, which are large, muscular chambers at the bottom of the heart (Picture: Tilman Esser, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg)
Scientists in Germany have successfully 3D-printed miniature heart chambers that can beat on their own for at least three months.
The research, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, could one day lead to the development of whole hearts that can be transplanted into patients.
The heart chambers were created using a technique called bioprinting, which involves depositing living cells in a specific pattern to create a three-dimensional structure.
The researchers used a bioprinter to create miniature ventricles which are the large, muscular chambers at the bottom of the heart that pump blood.
However, the 3D printed ventricles were about six times smaller than real human ones. They were made from a mixture of live human heart muscle cells and a gel-like material.
Researchers found that the ventricles were able to beat on their own for at least three months and showed no signs of deterioration during that time.
The heart is made of four chambers – two atria and two ventricles (Picture: Unsplash)
The research was conducted by a team of scientists at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany.
The team is now working on ways to make the printed heart chambers larger and more durable and to connect the printed chambers to the body’s tissues.
According to NHS Blood and Transplant, the average wait time for a heart transplant in the UK is 18-24 months. Some patients may wait much longer, or even die before a suitable donor heart becomes available.
Only around 140-150 adult heart transplants are performed in the UK each year as it is still a relatively rare procedure.
3D printed hearts could provide a new option for patients who are not eligible for a traditional heart transplant. For example, patients who have a weakened heart muscle or who have a genetic heart condition might be able to receive a 3D printed heart.
While research is still in its early stages, the possibility of developing whole hearts that can be transplanted into patients could revolutionise the treatment of heart disease.
MORE : Lego 3D printer builds human skin tissue – is there anything it can’t do?
MORE : Woman who received uterus transplant from mum gets pregnant
And it’s thanks to a 3D printer.