'Bionic' cardiac patch developed

Harvard scientists have developed a new “bionic” cardiac patch – nanoscale electronic scafforlds seeded with cardiac cells – that can act like a pacemaker. Doctors in recent years have made vast leaps in the treatment of cardiac problems – particularly with the development of “cardiac patches,” swaths of engineered heart tissues that can replace heart muscle damaged during a heart attack. “I think one of the biggest impacts would ultimately be in the area that involves replacement of damaged cardiac tissue with pre-formed tissue patches,” said Charles Lieber, from Harvard University. The bionic patch could act like a pacemaker – delivering electrical shocks to correct arrhythmia, Lieber said.