Science and Technology Daily, Washington, July 15 (Reporter Liu Haiying) University of Minnesota researchers published a report in the latest issue of "Circulation Research" magazine that they used human cells in the laboratory to 3D print a functioning centimeter-level human heart Muscle pump model. The researchers said that this model of heart muscle pump system that can function normally is of great significance to the research of heart disease, and their achievements have taken a key step towards the manufacture of large chamber models like the human heart.
The use of 3D bioprinting technology to manufacture human organoid tissues is currently a research hotspot. Previously, researchers at the University of Minnesota had tried to use human induced pluripotent stem cells to print models of cardiac muscle pumps. They reprogrammed pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes and then printed them in a three-dimensional structure using a special 3D printer. Unable to achieve the critical cell density that allows cardiomyocytes to truly function, they have been unable to create a model of cardiac muscle pump with normal function.
This time, the researchers tried a new method. They optimized a special bio-ink made of extracellular matrix protein to enable it to promote human induced pluripotent stem cell proliferation and cardiomyocyte differentiation, and then mixed this bio-ink with human induced pluripotent stem cells, using a special 3D The printer printed out the perforated structure of the heart-like chamber. Stem cells first expand in this structure, continuously increasing cell density, and then differentiate into cardiomyocytes in situ. Using this method, the researchers achieved the goal of increasing the density of myocardial cells in less than a month, so that the heart muscle pump model has normal myocardial function and can beat like a human heart.
This model of myocardium is about 1.5 cm long and was specially designed by the researchers. This scale is very suitable for mouse models, and can be placed in the abdominal cavity of mice for related research.
The researchers pointed out that the normal function of the cardiac muscle pump model system is of great significance for heart disease research, and their results may have a transformative impact on heart research. The new model will become a valuable tool for studying heart function, used to track changes in heart structure at the cellular and molecular levels, and to study the effects of heart disease drugs and therapies.
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The purpose of 3D bioprinting is to save the lives of millions of patients who need to replace organs. In order to avoid the host's rejection of the organ and the need to replace it again, scientists are using human cells, especially patients' own cells, to print artificial organs. The size of the heart printed this time is suitable for the mouse model. It may take a long time. A 3D printed heart that is the same size as the human heart and has the same function and can eliminate the problem of rejection can be really used by the patient. At that time, we can Say: 3D bioprinting technology has really filled the gap in the field of organ transplantation.