Author: Stephen Johnson / Source: Big Think
- Heart attacks leave scar tissue on the heart, which can reduce the organ’s ability to pump blood throughout the body.
- The microneedle patch aims to deliver therapeutic cells directly to the damaged tissue.
- It hasn’t been tested on humans yet, but the method has shown promising signs in research on animals.
A new ‘microneedle patch’ could someday help people regain healthy heart muscle tissue after suffering a heart attack.
Scientists aim to surgically implant a patch made of plastic and microscopic needles directly onto the heart where it will deliver therapeutic cells to help the organ regenerate healthy tissue. The microneedles establish channels of communication between the therapeutic cells and the heart tissue, and early research on animals suggests the technique is more effective at delivering regenerative cells to the heart than others methods currently known to scientists.
It’s a bold idea that, if successful, could extend the lifespans and well-being of heart attack…
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