Scientists from Harvard have developed a technology for the creation of the current biomodels of the left ventricle of the human heart. It behaves like a real body, which allows for on-site experiments and operations without risk to the life of the media. In the long term is the creation of a full-sized heart.
The heart tissue obtained by cultivation of living cells on nanofiber basis. The scientists took fibers biodegradable gelatin and polyester, formed them into a frame in the form of a pouch, with mesh surface on which landed the induced stem cells. After a few days of intensive growth of the cells formed a thin layer of cardiac tissue, the base self-destructed, and the experimenters made a model of the ventricle to beat.
Under isoproterenol stimulation, the rate of contraction is increased, while the physical damage was observed signs of a heart attack. The model worked well react to external stimuli, scientists were able to build her a bioreactor in which the artificial part of the heart normally lived more than six months. The facility is equipped with floodgates, through which the experimenters conducted in various ways – from infection models of pathogenic microbes to the installation of artificial heart valves.
The authors develop delighted with the results, because now you can take the patient’s tissue samples the most important body, grow a copy of it and work on it all sorts of radical treatments without risk to the person. More precisely, such opportunities will occur in the near future, as well as the ability to grow from the stored samples a new body to replace lost.
Source — Harvard