Arfaee Maziar, Vis Annemijn, Bartels Paul A A, van Laake Lucas C, Lorenzon Lucrezia, Ibrahim Dina M, Zrinscak Debora, Smits Anthal I P M, Henseler Andreas, Cianchetti Matteo, Dankers Patricia Y W, Bouten Carlijn V C, Overvelde Johannes T B, Kluin Jolanda
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Thorax Center, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Nat Commun. 2025 Jun 3;16(1):5146. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60372-6.
End-stage heart failure is a deadly disease. Current total artificial hearts (TAHs) carry high mortality and morbidity and offer low quality of life. To overcome current biocompatibility issues, we propose the concept of a soft robotic, hybrid (pumping power comes from soft robotics, innerlining from the patient's own cells) TAH. The device features a pneumatically driven actuator (septum) between two ventricles and is coated with supramolecular polymeric materials to promote anti-thrombotic and tissue engineering properties. In vitro, the Hybrid Heart pumps 5.7 L/min and mimics the native heart's adaptive function. Proof-of-concept studies in rats and an acute goat model demonstrate the Hybrid Heart's potential for clinical use and improved biocompatibility. This paper presents the first proof-of-concept of a soft, biocompatible TAH by providing a platform using soft robotics and tissue engineering to create new horizons in heart failure and transplantation medicine.
终末期心力衰竭是一种致命疾病。目前的全人工心脏（TAH）死亡率和发病率高，生活质量低。为克服当前的生物相容性问题，我们提出了一种软机器人混合式（泵血动力来自软机器人技术，内衬来自患者自身细胞）全人工心脏的概念。该装置在两个心室之间设有气动驱动的致动器（隔膜），并涂有超分子聚合物材料以促进抗血栓形成和组织工程特性。在体外，混合心脏每分钟泵血5.7升，并模拟天然心脏的自适应功能。在大鼠和急性山羊模型中的概念验证研究证明了混合心脏在临床应用和改善生物相容性方面的潜力。本文通过提供一个利用软机器人技术和组织工程的平台，展示了软质、生物相容性全人工心脏的首个概念验证，为心力衰竭和移植医学开创了新局面。
