‘Damaged heart could be coaxed into mending itself’

The technique works in a similar way to stem cells but instead of the new cells being grown outside the body and then injected back in,the method simply makes the cells switch at the point where they are needed,say the scientists.

The main problem is that when beating muscles cells – known as cardiomyocytes — die during an attack there’s no way to reactivate them and the surrounding connective tissue – known as fibroblasts — cannot take over their role.

But,Prof Srivastava and his team have developed a way of reprogramming fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes. The system involves slowly administering three substances — using an artificial tube called a stent — into the blood that trigger the conversion,’The Daily Telegraph’ reported.