It is undeniable that medical advancement has become highly sophisticated and modern, keeping pace with the changing times. The treatment of heart disease has recently garnered significant attention, with scientists studying the creation of artificial hearts, including the use of robotics and 3D printing—a field that has progressed remarkably. A research team has successfully created an artificial heart using 3D printing technology, as published in the journal Advanced Science. They printed a heart measuring 2.5 centimeters, the size of a rabbit's heart, yet it possesses a structure that closely mimics a real heart, all created by a 3D printer.
 |
 |
| (https://www.janicewcl.wordpress.com) | (https://www.diligentias.com) |
Creating replacement organs using 3D printers involves gradually weaving them layer by layer with a precision of 10-50 micrometers, using various materials such as:
- Bio-inks derived directly from the patient’s own tissue, which helps reduce organ rejection issues and shortens the waiting time for heart transplants in the future.
- Hydrogels and food coloring used to create organs containing complex networks of blood vessels and duct systems.
- Silicone materials, which, while appearing like a simple silicone heart on the outside, can beat and pump like a real human heart.
These research efforts will lead to the design and engineering of tissues that contain blood vessels, resemble real organs, and can easily incorporate the complex tubular structures and microscopic networks of the human body.
3D printing will benefit patients by allowing for the replacement or repair of diseased or damaged parts of the heart.
Some patients require organ transplants, but donors are scarce and insufficient for the number of patients. Additionally, tissue compatibility must be tested, and patients must take immunosuppressants for the rest of their lives, resulting in relatively few successful transplant cases each year compared to the number of patients waiting.
Although treatment methods are being developed to be more effective, faster, and less expensive, we should still strive to maintain a healthy body and care for our organs so that they continue to function normally; this remains the best approach.
