Researchers at ETH Zurich have achieved a milestone in cardiac care with the invention of a 3D heart patch that both seals and heals: while patching defects it is also repairing damaged tissue. The new “RCPatch” is a scientific breakthrough in tissue engineering with its promising results in preclinical animal studies.
Following a heart attack, reduced blood flow can severely damage heart tissue, often resulting in dangerous ruptures. Conventional bovine pericardial patches (BPPs) are commonly used to repair such defects. While durable and easy to implant, these patches are biologically inert, remain permanently in the body, and can trigger unwanted reactions like inflammation or calcification.
“Our goal was to develop a patch that not only closes a defect but actively helps the heart repair itself,” professor Robert Katzschmann, co-leader of the project, said in a press release. Lead author Lewis Jones added, “Traditional heart patches do not integrate into the tissue. We wanted a solution that grows with the heart.”
The RCPatch offers this solution through its three-part design: a fine sealing mesh, a 3D-printed lattice scaffold for structural support, and a hydrogel populated with living heart cells. The lattice is printed from a degradable polymer, providing stability during implantation and then gradually breaking down as the living cells merge with the surrounding tissue. “The scaffold is stable enough to hold the hydrogel with living cells, and over time it completely degrades, leaving only the regenerated tissue,” explained Jones.
Initial experiments in pig models demonstrated that the patch could withstand the heart’s internal pressure, prevent bleeding, and restore cardiac function. According to Katzschmann, the team managed to show that the patch retained its structural integrity even under real blood pressure.
In the long term, scientists envision that the RCPatch could replace conventional patches, providing both mechanical reinforcement and genuine tissue regeneration. Future research will focus on long-term animal studies and further refinement of the material before human clinical trials.
