Cyborg Cardiac Patch Normalizes Diseased Hearts

A bionic heart patch combines organic, living tissues and engineered parts to mechanically regulate the human heart.

Developed by researchers at Tel Aviv University (Israel), the hybrid patch integrates cardiac cells with flexible, freestanding, electronics in a three dimensional (3D) nanocomposite scaffold. Robust electronic properties enable recording of cellular electrical activities, and provide on-demand electrical stimulation for synchronizing cell contraction in the engineered tissue. Electroactive polymers that contain biological factors are deposited on designated electrodes, releasing drugs, growth factors, or small molecules into the patch microenvironment when needed.

The new cyborg cardiac patch not only replaces organic tissue; the integration of complex electronics within the cardiac patch will eventually provide therapeutic control and regulation of cardiac function through remote monitoring. Physicians will be able to log onto a computer and access the patient's file in real time. The data, sent remotely from sensors embedded in the engineered tissue, can help the physician assess exactly how the patient is faring. If needed, he can intervene to properly pace the heart and activate drugs from afar. The study was published on March 14, 2016, in Nature Materials.

“Until now, we could only engineer organic cardiac tissue, with mixed results. Now we have produced viable bionic tissue, which ensures that the heart tissue will function properly. It's very science fiction, but it's already here, and we expect it to move cardiac research forward in a big way,” said senior author Prof. Tal Dvir, PhD, of the laboratory for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. “The longer-term goal is for the cardiac patch to be able to regulate its own welfare. In other words, if it senses inflammation, it will release an anti-inflammatory drug; if it senses a lack of oxygen, it will release molecules that recruit blood-vessel-forming cells to the heart.”

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Tel Aviv University