A cyborg heart patch engineered at Tel Aviv University may offer a therapeutic alternative to heart transplantation. The bionic patch replaces damaged cardiac tissue and integrates electronics alongside a cellular scaffold to monitor and influence cellular activity.

Schematics of the microelectronic cardiac patch concept. Image source: Tel Aviv University. The engineered tissue features electronics that sense tissue function and accordingly provide electrical stimulation so that the patch contracts and expands. In addition, electroactive polymers are integrated to release medication on demand.

The self-regulating cardiac patch is designed to provide therapy in real time. Professor Tal Dvir of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Lab says that a physician will be able to view data sent remotely from sensors embedded in the engineered tissue and assess how his patient is doing. The physician also can intervene to pace the heart and activate drugs to regenerate tissue from afar.