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Magnetic levitational bioassembly of 3D tissue construct in space
Vladislav A Parfenov1,2, Yusef D Khesuani1, Stanislav V Petrov1
1Laboratory for Biotechnological Research "3D Bioprinting Solutions", Moscow, Russia.
Science Advances
|August 4, 2020
Summary
Researchers biofabricated three-dimensional (3D) tissue constructs in space using magnetic levitation. This scaffold-free method shows promise for advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in microgravity environments.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
- Space Life Sciences
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Tissue engineering traditionally relies on scaffolds, limiting construct complexity and integration.
- Magnetic levitation offers a novel scaffold-free approach for assembling biological tissues.
- Space microgravity presents unique conditions for studying biological self-assembly processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of magnetic levitational bioassembly for creating three-dimensional (3D) tissue constructs.
- To biofabricate 3D tissue constructs from human chondrocyte spheroids in a microgravity environment.
- To compare experimental results with predictive mathematical models and computer simulations.
Main Methods:
- Design, development, and certification of a magnetic bioassembler for space research.
- Bioassembly of human chondrocyte spheroids into 3D tissue constructs under microgravity.
- Utilizing magnetic fields for scaffold-free tissue spheroid fusion and construct formation.
Main Results:
- Successful biofabrication of 3D tissue constructs in space using magnetic levitation for the first time.
- Demonstrated good viability and advanced stages of tissue spheroid fusion within the constructs.
- Experimental findings showed good agreement with predictive mathematical models and computer simulations.
Conclusions:
- Scaffold-free biofabrication using magnetic fields is a feasible alternative to traditional scaffold-based tissue engineering.
- Magnetic levitational bioassembly in microgravity offers a new avenue for advancing tissue engineering.
- This technology holds potential for applications in space life science and space regenerative medicine.
