24 Apr 2019

The future of donation? 3D printed heart

From Nine To Noon, 9:26 am on 24 April 2019
This photo from the University of Tel Aviv shows a 3D print out of a heart with human tissue.

This photo from the University of Tel Aviv shows a 3D print out of a heart with human tissue. Photo: AFP

In a world first a 3-D printer has been used to create an entire heart made with actual human biological material. While the current state of the primitive organ can be compared to the heart of an embryo, it's hoped one day it will be possible to replicate a fully functioning life size human heart. The next step for the researchers is to culture the printed hearts in a lab and "teach them" to behave like hearts. Lynn Freeman discusses with  Professor Tal Dvir from the Department of Biotechnology at Tel Aviv University, who led the research.