Cardiovascular diseases continue to claim the lives of millions yearly across the globe. Unfortunately, it remains one of the top causes of death in most countries, and according to statistics, this trend is on the rise. Thankfully, some innovative researchers have revealed a new method of printing veins that could help improve bypass surgery patients’ results and usher in a new age of bioengineering. Here’s everything you need to know.
Cardiovascular Diseases – Statistics
Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in the United States and most industrial nations around the globe. Many factors have led to this scenario, including unhealthy dieting, alcohol use, low air quality, and tobacco abuse. All of these actions can lead a person down the path of contracting cardiovascular diseases.
Treating Cardiovascular Diseases Today
When you examine the number of heart disease victims yearly, it’s no surprise to learn that considerable effort has been put forth to help these individuals. In many instances, bypass surgery is required. This procedure introduces an artificial vein that skips over the clogged pathway and creates a new route, enabling the blood to flow smoothly and with proper pressure again.
Creating these vascular grafts has been a point of study for many years, as it’s extremely difficult to recreate a vein that matches the same strength and characteristics of the natural versions. Currently, extrusion-based bioprinting and hydrogel methods allow professionals to create pathways and specific conduits when needed. However, these methods of bioprinting have limitations.
These limitations included less durability, strength, and structural integrity. These printed veins aren’t strong enough to hold their structure when extended past certain distances. As such, they have a higher failure rate than desired by medical professionals. Thankfully, a group of researchers have come up with some innovative ways to make artificial veins stronger and last longer.
Study Details
The study, “Fabrication of a Compliant Vascular Graft Using Extrusion Printing and Electrospinning Techniques” delves into various methods to improve tensile and pressure strength in these prints to provide patients with more reliable small-diameter vascular constructs.
Electrospinning Technique
The researchers introduced a new method of creating these items called electrospinning. This method integrated fiber reinforcement onto 3d printed gelMA vascular grafts. Notably, a new additive-lather 3d printing system was created that integrates an electrostatic driving force to weave nanofibrous structures into the artificial veins.
Source – Advanced Materials Technologies
This strategy enabled researchers to create veins with uniform wall thickness throughout. Additionally, the structure of the veins was designed to act like the extracellular matrix (ECM) of native tissues. The vertical rotating mandrel printing setup combined dual electrospinning heads with pre-warmed gelMA hydrogel expended through an extrusion printing head.
Notably, the vertical mandrel was rotated at 20 rpm. This speed allowed researchers to keep the hydrogel at a constant flow rate of 0.22 mL min−1 from the 18 G tapered tip. Specifically, a Gelatin-methacryloyl (gelMA) was created for the testing. It was mixed with other additives, including methacrylic anhydride, before being placed in a buffering solution of phosphate-buffered saline. This step kept the PH balanced, enabling the structure to harden uniformly when put under lighting.
Nano Fibers
Once the gelatin-methacryloyl (gelMA) is hardened, a structural layer of nanofibers gets added. This addition strengthens the artificial veins. These nanofibers were created using varying mixtures of polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) polymer solutions. Interestingly, these nanofibers share many characteristics with natural human muscular fibers.
Testing the New Methods
The researchers conducted various tests to examine their creation and its capabilities. Notably, the testing covered an array of categories, including pressure, capacity, durability, and more. Researchers used a Kinexus Ultra+ Rheometer in the first round of tests. The device was set up with 40 mm sandblasted parallel plate geometry as part of this approach.
Burst Pressure
Burst pressure testing was another step that the team took. This was an essential step as there have been many issues in the current methods due to lower-than-average burst pressure compared to real human veins.
They started by testing the fiber-reinforced gelMA graft on a customized Instron 3367 universal testing machine. They were able to feed the created vein similarly to how a heart pumps, enabling the team to see how much pressure their units can handle.
Tensile Strength
Researchers tested tensile strength in all directions. Traditional methods proved brittle when stretched or smashed, with the gel unable to retain its circumference under extension. The added nanostructure was designed to prevent this.
The team tested to ensure the structures were sold in both circumferential and longitudinal directions. The results highlighted the added durability of the nano-reinforced vascular pathways. They were able to retain their structure under testing conditions that exceeded their requirements.
Cytotoxic testing
Another concern was how the body would accept these procedures. Cytotoxic testing was performed to confirm that these new veins wouldn’t be immediately rejected by the body. The results showed similar results to the current methods, albeit with higher performance in terms of durability and uniformity.
Test Results – Cardiovascular Diseases
The test results demonstrated that the team has successfully created artificial veins with attributes similar to those of their natural counterparts. Under burst pressure testing and tensile strength examinations, these units performed like real human tissue, opening the door for a new era in 3d printed biomaterials.
Benefits of Cardiovascular Diseases Study
There are many benefits that come along with being able to 3D print veins that are as strong as natural blood pathways. For one, it enables healthcare professionals to access these services more easily. As more people run into health risks, there is sure to be a growing demand for cardiovascular health products.
Lower Costs
The current heart bypass methods are effective but need improvement. This latest development will improve their results and make these options more affordable to the masses. This research enables the consistent and easy printing of these products when required. In the future, these costs will lower further as the team expands on their material research and development.
Small-diameter Vascular Grafts
One of the main advantages of this discovery is that it enables healthcare professionals to create smaller-diameter vascular grafts. In the past, the methods of printing veins were limited to how thin they could make the passageways. This limitation was due to a lack of structural integrity.
This latest development improves the structural performance of ultra-thin bio-printed veins, enabling researchers to create smaller and more accurate models when needed. Additionally, it takes less time to print these durable alternatives.
Longer Graft
Another major benefit that this study brings to the industry is the ability to print larger grafts. The gel used in previous methods didn’t have the structural integrity to hold up under pressure changes in longer prints. As the vein increased in length, pressure fluctuations and the risk of collapse grew higher.
This new method of 3d printing using nanofiber reinforcement eliminates this issue as each portion of the vein has equivalent strength and thickness. This approach enables more complex and longer reroutes, which could result in many lives being saved in the coming years.
Cardiovascular Diseases Researchers
The research was led by Faraz Fazal and hosted at Heriot-Watt University in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute. Other researchers who contributed to the project include Ferry P.W. Melchels, Andrew McCormack, Andreia F. Silva, Ella-Louise Handley, Nurul Ain Mazlan, Anthony Callanan, Vasileios Koutsos, and Norbert Radacsi.
Companies that Can Leverage the Cardiovascular Diseases Study
This latest discovery is sure to send waves through the medical sector. This discovery could help improve the lives of millions while also driving revenue for the companies smart enough to leverage it on time. Here are a few firms that have the positioning to accomplish this task.
1. Abbott Laboratories 
Abbott Laboratories has been in operation since 1888 and is a leading cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic healthcare provider. The company offers stents, heart valves, and implantable devices that are used globally to help those with cardiovascular disease live a better quality of life.
The company has multiple offices and employs +90K people globally. It holds patents on multiple heart care devices and has products in +100 markets. Today, Abbott Laboratories is one of the most recognized names in the cardiovascular care sector. The manufacturer has seen considerable growth recently thanks to a combination of innovation and further market positioning.
Abbott Laboratories has secured $22B in revenue in 2024 according to its latest statements. It’s also listed globally on the New York, Chicago, Pacific, Swiss, and London exchanges. All of these factors and the firm’s dedication to leading the charge toward cardiovascular care make this stock a smart addition to your portfolio.
2. Boston Scientific Corporation 
Boston Scientific Corporation was founded in 1979 in Massachusetts. It quickly rose throughout the market to become a premier provider of cardiovascular devices today, it is best known for its stents, pacemakers, and implantable defibrillators. These devices help save thousands of lives across the globe yearly.
Additionally, the company has made several pledges to create a more sustainable market. They have been recognized for their efforts, including being listed on Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Forbes America’s Most JUST Companies. Notably, Boston Scientific Corporation recently underwent a company reorganization geared at driving efficiency and building investor confidence. The maneuver paid off greatly, with the firm showing positive stock movement for 2024.
Future of 3d Printers in Health
The future of healthcare will depend on the ability to get these low-cost solutions to the public. This new hybrid technique could pave the way for faster and more affordable healthcare for those who need it most. Here are some other 3d printing health advancements that are making waves.
3d Printed Drugs
The area of 3d printed drugs is expanding with new manufacturing techniques emerging weekly. This month saw some exciting developments as a team of researchers created a way to verify dosage and quality in real time. This development could enable medicine to be printed faster and in remote locations, saving millions of lives yearly.
3d Printed Organs
When you think of 3d printed medicine development, you may not be thinking of where and how to test these creations. Thankfully, an innovative team of engineers has created a 3d “body-on-chip” printer that enables in-depth testing of drugs in a safe manner. The new method reduces costs and enables researchers to create specific body characteristics to test concepts on.
Printing Brain Tissue
Bioprinting is a hot topic that opens the door for new cures and procedures. Engineers have been working for years to recreate certain tissue types found in the body. For the first time, researchers have successfully created a tissue that mimics brain tissue in the lab. The 3d printed alternative integrates a soft gel that allows the neurons to grow and interact with each other, mimicking how they do in a normal brain.
3d Printing Can Help Help Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases
These developments open the door for a new level of cardiovascular care where providers can give help faster and more efficiently. Creating stronger, longer, and safer cardiovascular treatments reduces failure rates and could extend the lives of millions of patients today. As such, you should expect to hear more about this study in the coming months.
Learn about other cool 3d printing projects now.