A soft robotic total artificial hybrid heart.

Journal: Nature communications
Published Date: Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

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.

Authors

  • Maziar Arfaee
    Cardiothoracic Surgery, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Heart Failure and Arrhythmias, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Annemijn Vis
    Cardiothoracic Surgery, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Heart Failure and Arrhythmias, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Paul A A Bartels
    Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
  • Lucas C van Laake
    Autonomous Matter Department, AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Lucrezia Lorenzon
    Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park campus, Imperial College London, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK.
  • Dina M Ibrahim
    Department of Computers and Control Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta, 31733, Egypt; Department of Information Technology, College of Computer, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51452, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: d.hussein@qu.edu.sa.
  • Debora Zrinscak
    The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.
  • Anthal I P M Smits
    Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
  • Andreas Henseler
    Evos GMBH, Merzbrück, Germany.
  • Matteo Cianchetti
  • Patricia Y W Dankers
    Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
  • Carlijn V C Bouten
    Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
  • Johannes T B Overvelde
    School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
  • Jolanda Kluin
    Cardiothoracic Surgery, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Heart Failure and Arrhythmias, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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