{"id":21135,"date":"2022-12-07T20:00:47","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T19:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=132352"},"modified":"2022-12-07T20:42:13","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T19:42:13","slug":"heart-attack-on-a-chip-could-unlock-new-cardiac-treatments","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/heart-attack-on-a-chip-could-unlock-new-cardiac-treatments\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Heart attack on a chip\u2019 could unlock new cardiac treatments"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Jason Goodyer\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 07 December 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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A biomedical device dubbed a \u2018heart attack on a chip\u2019 could one day be used in the development of more effective treatments for patients recovering from a cardiac event<\/a>, its designers from the University of Southern California say.<\/p>\n

The device consists of a 2x2cm microfluidic framework made from a rubber-like polymer called PDMS with channels running through it on either side that gas can flow through. Within it is a microlayer of rodent heart cells that are grown on a scaffold of proteins patterned to mirror the structure of heart tissue.<\/p>\n

Heart attacks<\/a> occur when fat, cholesterol and other substances in the coronary arteries severely reduce the flow of oxygen-rich blood to part of the heart.<\/p>\n

In the device, this effect can be mimicked by passing gas with or without oxygen through the microfluid in the channels.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur device replicates some key features of a heart attack in a relatively simple and easy to use system,\u201d said Megan McCain<\/a>, an associate professor of biomedical engineering and stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, who developed the device.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis enables us to more clearly understand how the heart is changing after a heart attack. From there, we and others can develop and test drugs that will be most effective for limiting the further degradation of heart tissue that can occur after a heart attack.\u201d<\/p>\n

After recovering from a heart attack, patients\u2019 heart cells are unable to regenerate like other muscle cells. Heart tissue may also suffer from scarring which leads to a reduction in the amount of blood the heart can pump around the body. Researchers do not currently understand how this happens.<\/p>\n

The device will allow researchers to observe these changes in real time and study changes in heart rhythm and contraction strength in the lab.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very exciting and rewarding to envision our device having a positive impact on patient lives in the near future, especially for heart attacks, which are extremely prevalent,\u201d said McCain.<\/p>\n