Picture: University of Texas at Arlington
A research team at the University of Texas at Arlington is currently developing a 3D-printed heart patch designed to provide structural support while promoting the regeneration of damaged heart muscle. Led by Professor Yi Hong from the Department of Bioengineering, the project is funded by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH) and combines additive manufacturing techniques with bioactive materials and cell therapy.
“Our goal is to create a smart, bioengineered patch that not only supports the heart structurally, but also promotes real regeneration of the damaged tissue,” Dr. Hong said. “This research could offer new hope to patients who currently have few options beyond managing symptoms.”
At the core of the development is an elastic, electrically conductive polymer patch enriched with exosomes—extracellular vesicles that transport signaling molecules and can have anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerating effects. These exosomes are intended to be released locally, thereby specifically supporting the healing of infarcted heart tissue. The aim is a combination of mechanical support, electrical conductivity, and biochemical activation of the healing process.
“This is an exciting interdisciplinary effort that brings together some of the most innovative minds in cardiovascular repair,” Hong said. “We are not just repairing damage; we are actively guiding the heart to heal itself.”
The patch’s conductive structure is designed to synchronize with the heart muscle’s contractions and stabilize the propagation of electrical impulses—an important aspect for scarred tissue prone to arrhythmias.
”Professor Hong continues to make significant advances in developing innovative tissue engineering solutions for heart tissue repair,” said Michael Cho, chair of the Department of Bioengineering. “His latest NIH-funded project – focused on elastic exosome-releasing conductive patches for cardiac regeneration – highlights his pioneering and clinically impactful approach and offers promising new alternatives for treating myocardial infarction or heat attack, the leading cause of death worldwide.”
The material base consists of a stretchable polymer that is precisely structured via 3D printing to mimic both the macro- and micro-properties of natural cardiac tissue. The interdisciplinary project, which also includes Ke Cheng from Columbia University, unites bioelectronic functionality with regenerative medicine.
In the long term, such implants could also be used to treat other cardiac diseases involving tissue loss.
