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Science can do some wonderful , heartstring-tugging things. Take this for example: surgeons have triumphantly performed the first ever synthetic organ transplant. Cancer-stricken Andemariam Teklesenbet Beyene was the grateful recipient of this life-saving surgical breakthrough, performed by Prof. Paolo Macchiarini at Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden. The revolutionary operation comes with a zero rejection rate and requires no donor — a huge relief for those stuck on lengthy waiting lists. Using a 3D scan of Beyene’s windpipe, scientists at University College London crafted a highly-porous nanocomposite tracheal scaffold replica and covered it in stem cells harvested from his bone marrow. Within two days, the stem cells had worked their magic, weaving a brand new transplantable facsimile that is “indistinguishable from a normal healthy one.” And since the procedure uses no foreign-born tissues, patients can look forward to a full-recovery sans mandatory immunosuppressive drugs, a major plus for post-op quality of life. With the surgery a success, Prof. Macchiarini’s moving on to the next patient in need — this time, a nine-month-old Korean baby with a malformed trachea. Doctors — saving lives and warming hearts. Press release of the medically wondrous kind after the break. Continue reading First synthetic organ transplant paves way for post-op, immunosuppresive drug-free future First synthetic organ transplant paves way for post-op, immunosuppresive drug-free future originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 01:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink