Cardiopatch, a Project That Relies on 3D Printing to Treat Heart Problems

Several organizations in Spain, France, and Portugal are collaborating on the European Cardiopatch project in the healthcare sector. The primary goal of this initiative is to advance cardiac regenerative medicine by utilizing additive manufacturing technologies. These 3D printing solutions would facilitate the study of myocardial infarction, a condition in which a plaque breaks off, travels, and becomes lodged in a coronary artery, disrupting blood flow and depriving the heart of oxygen. Cardiopatch is heavily reliant on 3D printing, as these European partners have recently created a patch capable of repairing damaged heart tissue. They have designed and validated different 3D bioprinting methods to aid in the transportation, cultivation, and implantation of the patch.

Cardiovascular disease causes over 4 million deaths annually in Europe, with myocardial infarction being one of the leading causes of death. The current treatment options for this condition include drug therapy, implantation of devices, or cardiac resynchronization. Unfortunately, human beings lack sufficient regenerative capabilities for this vital organ, and while current treatments exist, only heart transplantation provides a truly curative therapy. Additive manufacturing has opened up exciting new opportunities for medicine to develop better performing devices through customization.

The Cardiopatch team (photo credits: Cardiopatch)

3D Printing Medical Patches

Developing a non-invasive treatment for cardiovascular and circulatory system diseases remains a significant challenge for the scientific community. Common procedures do not guarantee a reduced risk of death or readmission. In response, Cardiopatch has developed an innovative cellular regenerative medicine-based therapy using 3D printing technology. The therapy involves using a stem cell patch to repair heart tissue damaged by myocardial infarction without invasive surgery. The solution was presented in Pamplona on April 18th, following three years of research. Dr. Felipe Prósper, coordinator of the project and director of the cell therapy area of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, said that “our patch has shown therapeutic potential in the first in vivo trials. In addition, we have designed a 3D device for its culture and transport and a tool that allows its minimally invasive implantation in the patient.”