Irish Examiner looks into the “biological Velcro” that could soon help repair damaged hearts:
Velcro uses two sheets of material, one covered by hooks and the other loops, that bind when brought together.
In a similar way, the scientists used a biodegradable polymer implant containing interlocking T-shaped hooks to assemble different layers of heart cells into a 3D structure.
The system allows individual layers to be given different kinds of treatment to maximise their survival. It also means assembled tissue can easily be dismantled, without causing damage.
…
The team, led by Professor Milica Radisic, from the University of Toronto in Canada, wrote in the journal Science Advances: “We envisioned designing living tissues that could be as easily and firmly assembled as two pieces of Velcro.