A team of scientists in Switzerland, led by Albanian professor Omer Xhemali from Tetova and his colleague Professor Robert Katzschmann, has developed a groundbreaking cardiac patch made from biological tissue that could revolutionize the treatment of damaged hearts after a heart attack.
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| Omer Xhemali |
According to the Swiss news agency SDA & Keystone, the RCPatch combines a protective mesh, a supportive structural layer, and a hydrogel with cardiac cells, making it adaptable to human heart tissue. The results of this research were recently published in the prestigious journal Advanced Materials.
Why It Matters
After a heart attack, blood flow to certain areas of the heart is blocked, causing oxygen deprivation and severe damage to heart muscles. In critical cases, the wall of the heart can rupture, requiring immediate surgery. Currently, such defects are repaired using Bovine Pericardial Patches (BPPs), which, while strong and easy to implant, remain permanently as foreign bodies and may cause complications such as thrombosis or inflammation.
“Traditional heart patches do not integrate with the cardiac tissue and remain as foreign material. We wanted to solve this problem by creating patches that naturally merge with existing heart tissue,” explained Lewis Jones, the lead author of the study.
The Albanian Contribution to a Global Challenge
Professor Omer Xhemali, of Albanian origin from Tetova, played a central role in developing this pioneering technology. His leadership highlights the important contributions of Albanian scientists on the global stage. Together with Katzschmann, Xhemali and his team demonstrated that the RCPatch can withstand the heart’s high pressure, prevent bleeding, and improve cardiac function in animal trials.
Looking Ahead
The next steps include refining the material further and conducting long-term studies in animals before moving toward clinical applications in humans. If successful, this innovation could offer new hope to millions of heart patients worldwide.
The discovery is a testament not only to the power of interdisciplinary science but also to the remarkable impact of Albanian researchers like Professor Omer Xhemali in shaping the future of medicine.
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