German researchers have developed implantable chips made from pulsating heart muscle cells to treat patients with advanced heart failure and improve the efficiency of heart contractions.
According to a recent study, these chips are made from blood-derived cells that are reprogrammed to function as stem cells, allowing them to transform into any type of body cell. In cases of heart failure, these cells are converted into heart muscle cells and connective tissues, then cultivated in a « collagen gel » and placed into specially designed molds before being attached to a membrane for human use.
Professor Ingo Kutschka from the University Medical Center Göttingen, one of the study’s authors, stated: « For the first time, we have a lab-grown biological chip capable of stabilizing and improving heart functions, preventing their deterioration while strengthening the heart muscle. »
This innovation represents a major advancement, as it allows for the administration of a larger number of heart muscle cells while reducing the risks associated with direct cell injection, which can lead to tumor growth or irregular heartbeats, both of which can be fatal.
Currently, more than 64 million people worldwide suffer from heart failure caused by factors such as heart attacks, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. With a shortage of available donor organs for heart transplants, the high cost and complications of artificial heart pumps, this breakthrough offers new hope for patients.
