Japanese scientists have utilized biological materials and biotechnology, combining living muscle tissue cells to create a heart muscle cell sheet that beats like a real heart.
According to a reporter in Tokyo, scientists have successfully performed grafts of heart muscle cell sheets for heart patients.
This team of scientists also developed the world’s first “living heart” model, a three-dimensional dynamic model created from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology.
As one of the latest scientific projects in regenerative medicine, the researchers used biological materials and biotechnology to combine living muscle tissue cells into a heart muscle cell sheet that beats like a real heart.
“Living heart model,” the world’s first three-dimensional dynamic model. (Photo: Nguyễn Tuyến/TTXVN).
About 500,000 iPS cells were combined to create a three-dimensional dynamic model of the heart that beats like a real heart. By maintaining optimal temperature, this heart can continue to beat for approximately two weeks.
The development of the model “iPS living heart” was led by Dr. Sawa Yoshiki and his team of scientists.
Dr. Sawa Yoshiki is a cardiac surgeon and a distinguished professor at Osaka University, and he is a pioneer in regenerative medicine technology using iPS cells.
At the laboratory of Osaka University, Dr. Sawa Yoshiki introduced the heart muscle cell sheet model and the three-dimensional dynamic heart model. In an optimized environment, the heartbeat of the heart muscle cell sheet created from iPS stem cells is distinctly visible.
He confirmed that technically, they can currently create a heart from heart muscle cell sheets derived from iPS stem cells; however, this technology is still in the early stages of development and cannot yet be used on patients needing heart transplants.
According to Dr. Sawa Yoshiki, the heart muscle cells created from iPS cells are very intelligent and capable of assisting weakened cells.
He stated that by transplanting new heart muscle cells into areas of the heart muscle that are weakened, the heart can regain its strength, and its function can be restored.
Dr. Sawa Yoshiki during an interview with a TTXVN reporter. (Photo: Phạm Tuân/TTXVN)
Dr. Sawa Yoshiki believes that this treatment method could help patients in the early stages of heart disease before it progresses to the point where artificial heart transplants are needed.
He noted that in Japan, around 1,000 patients require heart transplants each year, but there are about 100,000 people with heart disease who are at a stage where they should be treated with heart muscle cell sheet grafts.
Dr. Sawa Yoshiki suggested that if these patients do not undergo heart muscle cell grafting, they could potentially die from heart failure. Thanks to heart muscle cell grafting, they have been and will be able to live healthy and active lives in society for a longer time. With heart disease being the leading cause of death worldwide, the treatment with heart muscle cell sheets is expected to become increasingly common.
According to Dr. Sawa Yoshiki, the cost incurred by his research team for creating the first prototype was 15 million yen (approximately $93,217).
He mentioned that the cost will be determined by the government, possibly at the initial cost or even higher.
Plans are in place for the “iPS living heart” model to be showcased at the PASONA NATUREVERSE area of the Pasona Group during the EXPO 2025 in Osaka. Through this, PASONA aims to promote the potential of new technology to build the future of medicine and life.
Dr. Sawa also expressed hope that the display of the “iPS living heart” model and the heart muscle cell sheet at EXPO 2025 will demonstrate the potential of regenerative medicine to everyone.
