Researchers have made a significant advancement in heart failure treatment by developing implantable patches of heart muscle capable of repairing damaged heart tissue.
The innovation, described as “groundbreaking” by experts, offers hope for millions of patients worldwide suffering from advanced heart conditions.
The patches are created using cells taken from blood that are “reprogrammed” to act as stem cells, which can develop into various cell types. These cells are then converted into heart muscle and connective tissue cells, embedded in a collagen gel, and grown in custom molds to form hexagonal patches. For human applications, the patches measure around 5 cm by 10 cm and are attached to a membrane before being sutured onto the heart.
Prof. Ingo Kutschka from the University Medical Center Göttingen in Germany, a co-author of the study, described the development as a first in heart medicine:
“We now have, for the first time, a laboratory-grown biological transplant available, which has the potential to stabilize and strengthen the heart muscle.”
Heart failure, which affects more than 64 million people globally, is often caused by conditions such as heart attacks, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. Treatment options are limited due to a shortage of donor hearts for transplantation and complications associated with artificial heart pumps.
The patch approach circumvents some of the risks associated with directly injecting heart muscle cells, such as tumor growth and irregular heart rhythms.
“We are implanting young muscle into patients with heart failure,” explained Prof. Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann, another co-author of the study.
In experiments conducted on rhesus macaques, researchers found no evidence of irregular heartbeats, tumor formation, or adverse outcomes related to the patches. The monkeys’ hearts showed improved muscle strength and contraction over time.
The researchers also tested the patches on a 46-year-old woman with advanced heart failure. After the patches were implanted during minimally invasive surgery, the patient remained stable and later underwent a heart transplant. Analysis of the removed heart revealed that the patches had survived and established a blood supply.
While the use of donor cells requires immune suppression, researchers believe this approach could lead to “off-the-shelf” patches, making the treatment more accessible and allowing for better safety testing. However, the patches take three to six months to show therapeutic effects, making them unsuitable for all patients.
Ongoing clinical trials are underway to determine the long-term effectiveness of the patches.
“Our ongoing clinical trial will hopefully demonstrate whether these engineered heart muscle grafts will improve cardiac function in our patients,” said Kutschka.
Prof. Sian Harding from Imperial College London described the research as a groundbreaking development but emphasized the need for further work. She noted that the heart muscle cells in the patches did not mature completely, and the establishment of blood flow was slow.
Prof. Ipsita Roy from the University of Sheffield praised the concept, highlighting its less invasive nature compared to heart transplants.
“It is an excellent piece of work. I’m really impressed,” she said.
While the approach offers new hope for patients under palliative care with limited treatment options, experts caution that more extensive clinical studies are needed to validate the findings.
With input from the Guardian and the Financial Times.
