Engineering electrically conducting tissue for the heart

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Engineered tissue provides an electrical connection between the atria (not shown) and the ventricles (at left). Cardiac cells appear in red and green and the implanted cells in green alone. Credit: Courtesy Douglas Cowan PhD Childrens Hospital Boston
Engineered tissue provides an electrical connection between the atria (not shown) and the ventricles (at left). Cardiac cells appear in red and green, and the implanted cells in green alone. Credit: Courtesy Douglas Cowan, PhD, Children's Hospital Boston

Patients with complete heart block, or disrupted electrical conduction in their hearts, are at risk for life-threatening rhythm disturbances and heart failure. The condition is currently treated by implanting a pacemaker in the patient's chest or abdomen, but these devices often fail over time, particularly in infants and small children who must undergo many re-operations. Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have now taken preliminary steps toward using a patient's own cells instead of a pacemaker, marking the first time tissue-engineering methods have been used to create electrically conductive tissue for the heart.


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