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Briefing
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- Beating Heart Tissue – Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have made beating heart tissue out of spinach leaves, which can one day be grafted to hearts of patients who suffered from heart attacks
- Decellularized Plant Leaves – Removed plant cells from spinach leaves using detergent, leaving behind cellulose and vein system intact, and replaced them with human heart cells
- Working Vascular System – Human cells started beating after 21 days with researchers able to demonstrate solid vein system where blood and cells can flow through
- 3D Printing Limitations – While 3D printing has produced working tissues before, it has failed to mimic blood vessels in human tissue that transport oxygen and nutrients to cells
- Other Applications – Can be applied to other plants, such as wood, to replace bone tissue and broccoli or cauliflower to replicate lung tissue
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Accelerator
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Sector
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Information Technology
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Organization
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
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Source
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Original Publication Date
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March 28, 2017
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