[5] Currently organ supply is insufficient to meet the demand, which presents a large limitation in an end-stage treatment plan.
Researchers have had many successful advances in the engineering of cardiovascular tissue and have looked towards using decellularized and recellularized cadaveric hearts in order to create a functional organ.
[5] Over the past years, researchers have identified populations of cardiac stem cells that reside in the adult human heart.
This technique involves perfusing the heart with detergents such as SDS and Triton X-100 dissolved in distilled water.
[5] Because minimal DNA material remains after the decellularization process, the engineered organ is biocompatible with the transplant recipient, regardless of species.
[2][5] This area shows immense promise and with future research may redefine treatment of end stage heart failure.