A New Heart Patch Was Made From a 3D Printer at ETH Zurich

An interdisciplinary research team led by Professor Robert Katzschmann (ETH Zurich) and Professor Omer Dzemali (University Hospital Zurich) has introduced a promising innovation in medical technology known as the “RCPatch,” a three-dimensional, tissue-integrating heart patch that not only seals defective areas of the heart chamber but also actively contributes to their regeneration.

In current medical practice, heart defects following a heart attack are treated with bovine pericardium patches (BPPs). While these are stable and easy to implant, they are biologically inactive and remain permanently in the heart as foreign bodies. They carry risks such as calcification, thrombosis, or inflammation. The research team at ETH Zurich set out to develop a biologically active patch that fully integrates into heart tissue.

The lattice structure of the ‘patch’ from three perspectives

One Patch With Three Components

The RCPatch is composed of three coordinated components: a fine-mesh sealing net that lies directly over the defect, a 3D-printed support scaffold consisting of a lattice structure made of biodegradable polymers, and a hydrogel designed to promote tissue growth, which is populated with living heart cells. The lattice structure is produced using 3D printing and filled with hydrogel, which is also applied to the net. Once the patch is implanted in the heart, it fuses with the surrounding tissue. The support scaffolding then fully dissolves over time, leaving no foreign material behind.