Testing revealed that this protein, when within the epicardial cells, could stimulate the heart muscles cells to replicate themselves into new, healthy versions. The researchers are confident that they will be able to test the patch in human clinical trials as early as 2017. Dead heart tissue leaves scar tissue, which interrupts the normal muscle actions that make the heart pump so efficiently. Unfortunately, the adult mammalian heart does not regenerate effectively, causing scar tissue to form.

Scientists say that the protein patch prototype, can already fix the damage that was caused by heart attack.

Follistatin-like 1 infused patches can regenerate inactive heart cells.

Scientists representing the Stanford University School of Medicine along with their colleagues have discovered a way of regenerating damaged heart muscles by delivering a protein to them by means of a bioengineered patch carrying a protein called Fstl1. This improved the overall heart function of the animals, as well as their survival – even when the patch was applied a week after heart attack.

More than half of all heart failure patients die within 5 to 6 years.

The team then came up with a novel idea to turn their findings into a therapeutic strategy for heart attack. With time, the collagen materials will get absorbed into the organ. The researchers imagine that the elasticity of the fabric, which resembles that of the fetal coronary heart, is essential to offering a hospitable surroundings for muscle regrowth.

Pilar Ruiz-LozanoPhoto courtesy of Stanford University ” Consequently, most survivors face a long and progressive course of heart failure, with poor quality of life and very high medical costs”, Ruiz-Lozano said. “We’re really excited about the prospect”, team member Mark Mercola said. The hope is that a related process may finally be utilized in human coronary heart-assault sufferers who are suffering extreme coronary heart injury.

Past studies in zebrafish, whose heart cells have the ability to regenerate, have revealed that the epicardium – the inner layer of the pericardium, which lines the wall of the heart muscles – plays a role in the regeneration of cardiomyocytes.

Because the patches are made of acellular collagen, meaning they contain no cells, recipients do not need immunosuppressive drugs to avoid rejection. This was in addition to less scarring, which was also seen. The animals showed less scarring on their hearts and the organ’s function was restored to a stable 40 percent.