3-D Printing a Heart? Is it Feasible, and How Does It Work?

a 3d printed heart next to a 3-d printer

A pioneering company is venturing into the realm of bioprinting by creating a mini human heart, complete with ventricles, valves, and all four chambers.

[https://biolife4d.com/]

But how exactly does BIOLIFE4D accomplish the feat of printing a heart?

BioLife4D’s Explanation Video

The First Step in Printing a Heart

The initial step involves capturing an image of the patient’s heart, focusing on its unique complexities. It’s akin to recognizing the difference between the hearts of a chihuahua and a pitbull – size matters, but so does the intrinsic design.

To achieve the perfect replica, BIOLIFE4D starts with a magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the patient’s heart. This MRI is then transformed into a digital model using specialized software, ensuring the new heart mirrors the original in shape and size.

Numerous software tools can convert an MRI into a digital model, such as OsiriX (Mac only), Invesalius, 3D Slicer, Seg3D, or ImageVis3D for model creation, and Meshlab, Netfabb, or MeshMixer for model refinement. However, the specific software used by BIOLIFE4D remains unspecified.

Rather than using plastic or silicone, BIOLIFE4D prints hearts with a proprietary gel comprising blood cells and a structural matrix to bind them. This innovative method begins with a patient’s blood sample, from which cells can be transformed into any cell type – a possibility due to the uniform genetic blueprint shared across all human cells.

How Cell Transformation Works: A Breakdown

Step 1: Induction of Pluripotency

  1. Selection of Cells: Scientists select a suitable cell source, often using Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) for their easy access.
  2. Gene Delivery: Reprogramming factors, known as Yamanaka factors (Oct3/4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC), are introduced to the cells through various methods, each with its own set of advantages and limitations.
  3. Expression of Reprogramming Factors: These factors trigger the reprogramming of cells into a pluripotent state, enabling them to differentiate into any cell type.

Step 2: Expansion and Characterization

  1. Culturing and Expansion: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are cultivated under specific conditions to promote growth and allow for cell banking or differentiation.
  2. Characterization: iPSCs undergo thorough examination to confirm their pluripotent nature and differentiation potential.

Step 3: Directed Differentiation

  1. Differentiation into Target Cells: iPSCs are exposed to a series of growth factors and signaling molecules, emulating the natural cues for cell differentiation.
  2. Maturation and Functionalization: Cells undergo further maturation to fully develop the desired functional traits, often requiring additional growth factors or bioreactor environments.

Although BIOLIFE’s processes may vary, this outlines the general approach to cell transformation.

Following the transformation of blood cells into heart cells, these cells are mixed with nutrients and a hydrogel to sustain and bind them. This mixture, referred to as bio-ink, is then loaded into a bioprinter.

A bioprinter, much like a traditional 3D printer but designed for biological materials, constructs the heart layer by layer, guided by the digital model. A biodegradable scaffold supports the cells until they fuse into living tissue.

After printing, the heart is placed in a bioreactor, simulating the human body environment, where the cells continue to organize and eventually start beating synchronously, as BIOLIFE4D states. Over time, the biodegradable material dissolves, allowing the heart to mature until it’s ready for transplantation.

Thus, we’ve unveiled the intricate process behind 3-D printing a heart, a blend of cutting-edge science and engineering that holds the promise of revolutionizing organ transplantation.

   
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