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Both authors contributed equally to this work.
Address correspondence to: Payam Akhyari, MD, Research Group for Experimental Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, Duesseldorf 40225, Germany, E-mail: [email protected]
Introduction
End-stage heart failure remains among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.1 In the face of continued organ shortage and unresolved problems associated with current generation of mechanical devices for cardiocirculatory support, there is an ever-growing clinical demand for innovative therapy concepts to treat heart failure.2 In this context the innovative field of whole-organ tissue engineering has gained considerable attention, which is further fostered by disappointing results derived from clinical trials on the alternative concept involving cell transplantation.3 Moreover, in vitro reconstruction of complex tissue constructs has recently been suggested as a partial substitute for animal experiments.4
Within less than a decade a rapid sequence of scientific cornerstone achievements has boosted the general expectations and the hope for a clinically relevant solution facilitated by means of tissue engineering.5 The successful decellularization of an entire rodent heart by means of coronary perfusion with detergent...