Vascular organoid patches offer new hope for coronary artery disease treatment

Ischemic heart disease (IHD), also known as coronary artery disease, is a leading cause of death and morbidity in Western countries.

IHD arises when blood vessels of the heart become clogged, blunting oxygen and nutrient supply to heart muscle cells, which eventually die off, leading to heart attack or heart failure.

Although larger blood vessels can be replaced surgically to restore blood flow, there is currently no treatment targeting smaller blood vessels, so-called microvessels, which are essential for uniform blood circulation within the heart muscle. ...