Heart damage following a heart attack remains one of the most serious challenges in cardiovascular medicine. In severe cases, the heart wall can rupture, requiring urgent intervention. Current repair methods rely on bovine pericardial patches, which, while effective, carry risks such as calcification, thrombosis, and inflammation due to their foreign-body nature.
Now, researchers from ETH Zurich and the University Hospital of Zurich have introduced a groundbreaking alternative: the Reinforced Cardiac Patch (RCPatch). Published in Advanced Materials, this 3D-printed device combines strength, flexibility, and regenerative potential in a single implantable solution.
The patch integrates three key components: a degradable polymer scaffold for stability, a fine mesh for sealing defects, and a hydrogel enriched with living heart muscle cells. This unique structure not only withstands internal blood pressure but also promotes tissue integration and regeneration. Unlike permanent synthetic implants, the RCPatch is designed to degrade naturally once healing is complete.
Early animal experiments demonstrated the patch’s ability to close ventricular defects under high pressure without bleeding, restoring normal cardiac function. Preclinical trials in pigs confirmed its durability and adaptability under real physiological conditions.
The promise of the RCPatch lies in its dual purpose: immediate mechanical repair and long-term tissue regeneration. If successful in future studies, this innovation could replace inert implants with living, adaptive solutions, representing a paradigm shift in cardiac surgery.
As the team advances toward extended animal studies and eventual clinical trials, the RCPatch stands as a pioneering example of how 3D printing and tissue engineering can converge to heal the heart from within.
Article written by HospiMedica International staff writers
12/08/2025
Source:
Hospi Medica