Heart valves

Heart, the prosthesis that regenerates itself: first successful experimental implantation

The BioChord project, supported by the European Research Council, aims to replace synthetic materials with bioengineered fabrics

by Francesca Cerati

17 February 2026

Aggiungi Il Sole 24 Ore
ai preferiti su Google

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

A prosthesis that transforms into natural tissue
The principle of biomimicry
From laboratory to pre-clinical testing
Towards clinical applications

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

For the first time in the world, a bioengineered tendon cord has been successfully implanted in a large animal model. The procedure, performed by Professor Maria Grandinetti of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore on a sheep, represents a significant advance in tissue engineering applied to cardiology and opens up new perspectives for the treatment of mitral valve disease.

The operation is part of the BioChord project, coordinated by the Rimed Foundation and supported by a Proof of Concept Grant from the European Research Council, one of the most prestigious programmes for scientific research in Europe.

A prosthesis that transforms into natural tissue

The tendon chord is a fundamental structure for the proper functioning of the mitral valve: it acts as a 'puller', allowing for synchronised opening and closing during the cardiac cycle. Its deterioration or rupture can cause mitral regurgitation, a condition that affects more than 24 million people worldwide.

The solutions available today are based on synthetic sutures, usually made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePtfe), a material that is strong but lacks the biological characteristics of natural tissue. This can lead to stiffness, risk of fibrosis or long-term complications.

BioChord introduces a radically different approach. 'This is not a simple suture material, but tissue engineering,' explains Antonio D'Amore, project leader, Group Leader in Tissue Engineering at Rimed and lecturer at the University of Palermo and the University of Pittsburgh. 'The bioengineered cord is designed to faithfully mimic the natural one and, over time, degrade, being replaced by the patient's own tissue.

The principle of biomimicry

The technology is based on biomimicry, i.e. the artificial reproduction of the structural and functional characteristics of biological tissue. The bioengineered tendon cord is made of biodegradable materials that provide immediate mechanical support and guide the regeneration of natural tissue.

Over time, the prosthesis gradually dissolves, leaving room for a new tendon cord formed directly by the body. This approach could reduce the need for anticoagulant drugs, limit the risk of calcification and decrease the likelihood of further surgery.

From laboratory to pre-clinical testing

The BioChord project was born as an evolution of a larger research project funded by the European Union in 2020 with two million euros, aimed at bioengineering the entire mitral valve. The implantation performed on the animal model represents a crucial step in the validation of the technology.

The research team includes, among others, scientist Arianna Adamo of the Rimed Foundation and researcher Maria Emiliana Caristo of the Catholic University, responsible for the experimental centre and animal welfare.

Towards clinical applications

According to the researchers, the success of the implant demonstrates the feasibility of a new generation of cardiovascular prostheses capable of fully integrating with the human body. The ultimate goal is to transfer this technology into clinical practice, offering patients solutions that are more physiological, durable and less prone to complications than traditional synthetic materials.

If confirmed in subsequent studies, the bioengineered tendon cord could mark a paradigm shift in cardiac surgery: no longer permanent devices, but temporary structures capable of guiding the heart's natural regeneration.