Biolife4D

History

2019: On the 3D-printer printed the mini-version of heart of the person

At the beginning of September, 2019 the biotechnology company Biolife4D with the headquarters in Chicago announced that it successfully printed on 3D - the bioprinter the mini-version of heart of the person. Tiny heart has the same structure, as full-size model, and the company considers that it is an important stage in creation of the artificial heart suitable for change.

Mini-heart was printed from the cells of a cardiac muscle received from the patient and the bioink created on the basis of connections of an extracellular matriks which reproduce properties of heart of mammals. To provide structural integrity during printing process, Biolife4D printed the additional support frame comprising heart. Upon termination of printing mini-heart was transferred to the bioreactor which imitates a status of a human body.

Biolife4D successfully printed on 3D - the bioprinter the mini-version of heart of the person

Biolife4D for the first time printed on the bioprinter heart tissue of the person in June, 2018. Earlier the same year the company printed separate components of heart, including valves, ventricles and blood vessels. Printing process includes reprogramming of leukocytes of the patient in the induced plyuripotentny stem cells (iPS cage) which can be differentiated in different types of cages, including kardiomiotsita.

The company hopes to print eventually on 3D - the bioprinter full-function heart of the person. Theoretically, such 3D - hearts can reduce or in general eliminate the need for donor organs. Of course, despite achievements of Biolife4D company, mini-heart cannot be used for change yet. However it can become a basis for testing of cardiotoxicity - researches of how medicines can influence cardiac muscles. For this purpose the 3D technology - printings of mini-hearts will also be brought to the market.^[1]

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