"The patch-cyborg" instead of heart transplant

Developers

Ron Feiner, Yosi Shacham-Diamand, Tal Dvir etc.

Description of the technology

A heart transplant is an operation of immense complexity, which affects so many different aspects.
Today, chronic heart failure is the most common disease in the world, leading to death, and the number of diseases increasing year by year.

Perhaps this problem will be solved with the new development of researchers from Tel-Aviv University, working under the supervision of Professor Tal Dvir, representing a bionic patch made up of organic and artificial components. In fact, the possibility of such patches beyond the capacity of human heart tissue. It is able to be reduced as the heart muscle and at the same time can adjust its operation as the operation of the mechanism. Bionic tissue is composed of living cardiac cells, polymers and complex nanoelectronic circuit. This integrated electronic system has great potential, such as interactive registration of contractions of the heart and regulation of the rhythm in cases of necessity. In addition, the electronics can regulate the release of growth factors and drugs to attract stem cells or suppression of the inflammatory response after the implantation procedure.

Practical application

In the presence of the implant the doctor will be able in real time through the computer to take readings from sensors embedded in the bionic implant, and to assess the patient’s condition.

This will allow to take timely action, such as adjusting the frequency of the heartbeat or activation needed release of drugs outside of medical reception.

The long-term goal of work on improving the bionic implant is giving him the ability independently to regulate its functioning.

Laboratories

• The Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, (Israel);
• The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, (Israel);
• Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, (Israel);
• Department of Physical Electronics, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, (Israel).

Links

Publications

• Fleischer S. et al. Spring-like fibers for cardiac tissue engineering //Biomaterials. — 2013. — Т. 34. — №. 34. — С. 8599–8606.
• Engelmayr G. C. et al. Accordion-like honeycombs for tissue engineering of cardiac anisotropy //Nature materials. — 2008. — Т. 7. — №. 12. — С. 1003–1010.
• Kim D. H. et al. Nanoscale cues regulate the structure and function of macroscopic cardiac tissue constructs //Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. — 2010. — Т. 107. — №. 2. — С. 565–570.
• Radisic M. et al. Biomimetic approach to cardiac tissue engineering: oxygen carriers and channeled scaffolds //Tissue engineering. — 2006. — Т. 12. — №. 8. — С. 2077–2091.
• Fleischer S. et al. Albumin fiber scaffolds for engineering functional cardiac tissues //Biotechnology and bioengineering. — 2014. — Т. 111. — №. 6. — С. 1246–1257.
• Tian B. et al. Macroporous nanowire nanoelectronic scaffolds for synthetic tissues //Nature materials. — 2012. — Т. 11. — №. 11. — С. 986–994.
• Leor J., Amsalem Y., Cohen S. Cells, scaffolds, and molecules for myocardial tissue engineering //Pharmacology & therapeutics. — 2005. — Т. 105. — №. 2. — С. 151–163.