Department of Biomedical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering & Applied Sciences
Riphah International University
Assignment 01, Spring 2025 Semester
B.Sc. Biomedical Engineering Program
Student Name
:
Student CMS/ID:
Marks :
10
Submission Date & Time:
Topic: Engineering a Functional Cardiac Patch for Myocardial Repair
Sub-Topics:
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Myocardium
Requirements for a functional cardiac patch
Clinically relevant cell sources
Biomimetic approach to cardiac-tissue engineering
Scenario
Dr. Ahmed, a leading cardiothoracic surgeon at a renowned hospital, is facing a challenging case. A 55year-old male patient, Mr. Kamal, has suffered a severe myocardial infarction, resulting in significant loss
of functional myocardium. Traditional treatments, such as medication and bypass surgery, have shown
limited success in improving his cardiac function. Given the limited regenerative capability of myocardial
tissue and the shortage of donor hearts for transplantation, Dr. Ahmed collaborates with a team of
biomedical engineers and tissue engineers to develop a tissue-engineered cardiac patch. As part of this
team, your goal is to design a functional cardiac patch that mimics native myocardial tissue, integrates
seamlessly with the heart, and restores contractile function.
Problem Statement (CLO3-C3)
Your task is to demonstrate how do electrical signals initiate and regulate the excitation-contraction
coupling in cardiac myocytes, and what role do ion channels play in this process? What are the key
biological, mechanical, and structural requirements for a functional cardiac patch to successfully integrate
with native myocardial tissue and restore contractile function? Illustrate different cell sources for
myocardial regeneration. How can tissue-engineering strategies mimic the native myocardium in terms of
cellular composition, vascularization, and mechanical properties to enhance the integration and function
of a cardiac patch?
Problem Alignment with Topics
1. Requirements for a functional cardiac patch: Students are asked to investigate the biological
(biocompatibility, angiogenesis), mechanical (elasticity, strength), and structural (ECM-like
scaffold, organized cardiomyocyte network) factors.
2. Biomimetic approach to cardiac-tissue engineering: Students are prompted to explore strategies
to mimic cellular composition and vascularization for optimal integration and function.
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Deliverables & Instructions
The students should submit a report that includes:
The excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac myocytes
Role of ion channels
Key biological, mechanical, and structural requirements for a functional cardiac patch
Different cell sources for myocardial regeneration
Tissue-engineering strategies to mimic the native myocardium
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