Bio-engineered jellyfish could help heart patients

LONDON – Researchers at Harvard University and California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have successfully tissue-engineered a jellyfish using a mix of silicone polymer and rat-heart cells. Scientists believe this discovery takes them a step closer to understanding how to reverse-engineer entire organs and finding novel treatments for patients with heart damage and failure.

The engineered centimeter-long jellyfish is comprised of a membrane with eight arm-like appendages. Within the membrane, rat heart muscle cells were placed in a specific pattern to promote self-organization and accurately resemble the muscular architecture of a jellyfish. After placing the artificial jellyfish, named “Medusoid,” in a salty fluid capable of conducting electrical currents, researchers were able to induce muscle contraction of the membrane by oscillating the voltage in the fluid. As a result of the muscular contractions, vortices (ring-shaped whirling masses of water) were created beneath the organism, allowing it to propel itself forward. This muscular-pump mechanism utilized by the jellyfish for locomotion is analogous to that of the beating human heart.

Harvard and California Institute of Technology (Caltech) scientists said the artificial jellyfish shows that it is possible to reverse-engineer a variety of muscular organs and simple life forms, allowing for a broader definition of what counts as synthetic life. The researchers hope their work could one day lead to medical devices, such as pacemakers, which can live independently within the human body, operating without the need for power sources such as batteries.

Each year, approximately one million Americans die of heart disease, accounting for 42% of the total number of deaths. The US cardiovascular devices market, a $15 billion industry forecasted to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.1%, represents 11% of the overall medical devices market. The market is driven by the aging population, the increased incidence rate of the disease and the scientific and technological advancements made in the field. These factors contribute to an unmet need in the market to find new and better treatments.

The most common type of heart disease in the US is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), characterized by the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. Overtime, this leads to narrowing of the arteries and prevents adequate blood flow to the heart. The cNIke Dunk SB MID