Cells in space

How does one treat in a seriously injured astronaut in outer space or even another planet? To answer such a question, the US National Aeronautical Space Administration (NASA) has embarked on a program of growing tissues--and possibly whole organs--in space. NASA has developed a unique rotating bioreactor that allow cells to be grown in a microgravity environment that eliminates almost all shear forces placed upon a cell culture system while entering space. Back on earth, this novel bioreactor has led to exciting discoveries and applications by scientists trying to get cells to differentiate and form their natural three-dimensional tissue matrices--the holy grail of tissue engineers. NASA's bioreactor has allowed various labs to culture cells and even viruses previously impossible to grow using traditional methods. These successes are attributed to the bioreactor's ability to provide an unique environment that closely resembles tissue differentiation during embryogenesis, and thus allowing cellular expression of surface epitopes similar to that of intact tissues. It also appears that cells grown in a microgravity, low-shear environment allows for greater chemical signaling, probably as a result of more surface contact between cells. Realizing the bioreactor's commercial potential, Santa Monica, California-based VivoRx licensed exclusive rights from NASA for both therapeutic and diagnostic commercial applications. VivoRx has, in the past, successfully transplanted encapsulated islet cells from cadavers and porcine pancreas into insulin-dependent diabetics, perhaps a major breakthrough in the treatment of diabetes. However, pancreas from cadavers are in very short supply. The bioreactor may be the answer; VivoRx hopes the bioreactor will allow them to propagate enough human islet cells to use their cell-based approach to treat a large diabetic population. The company has already successfully grown islet cells generated from the bioreactors, and is beginning FDA-approved Phase I/II clinical trials.