This 3D heart tissue beats—and is made from multiple cardiac cell types

Scientists at Toronto’s York University have created 3D heart tissue that has a synchronized beat. They think the tissue could improve understanding of cardiac health as researchers develop new treatments.

Muhammad Yousaf, a York University chemistry professor, and his graduate student team stuck three types of cardiac cells together to get a 3D heart tissue that beats as one heart.

The scaffold-free tissue contains three cell types that are found in the heart: contractile cardiac muscle cells, connective tissue cells and vascular cells. Most other 2D and 3D tissues do not beat harmoniously and need scaffolding for cells to attach and grow on.

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