Genetics managed a breakthrough in tissue engineering, when a German team of scientists, led by Ralf Sodian, MD, cardiac surgeon at University Hospital of Munich, announced that stem cells from the blood flowing through the umbilical cord could be used to create artificial heart valves for infants born with malfunctioning valves. If they manage to successfully implement their research in humans, doctors will have a way of eliminating the drawbacks of artificial valves.
 

Currently, animal tissue is mostly used to create artificial heart valves for infants. The problem with this solution is that, although it saves the baby's life for the moment, it still requires two or three surgeries afterwards, in order to replace it with larger valves, as the tissue does not grow with the human heart. Furthermore, the entire valve can stiffen, which could lead to significant complications, and even death.
 

Artificial valves or those created from donated, compatible cells, require the constant use of blood thinners to work. Further surgeries are also required, thus making these solutions temporary as well. With the harvesting of stem cells, scientists can basically create a living heart valve in the lab, one that develops and grows at the same rate as the heart of the patient. And because the blood is taken from the baby's own umbilical cord, perfect compatibility is guaranteed.
 

"In our concept, if prenatal testing shows a heart defect, you could collect blood from the umbilical cord at birth, harvest the stem cells, and fabricate a heart valve that is ready when the baby needs it," argued Sodian, at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2008. "Tissue engineering provides the prospect of an ideal heart valve substitute that lasts throughout the patient's lifetime and has the potential to grow with the recipient and to change shape as needed."
 

The test sample created in the lab had all proteins required for perfect functioning, and the tissue showed it was viable, by performing the functions it would have performed inside the body. The main challenge that the creators of the valve must now face is creating an appropriate artificial scaffolding that could hold the cells until they are fully grown.