New Knowledge About Tissue Engineering Under Microgravity Conditions in Space and on Earth

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Translational Medicine

Background:

• Microgravity (µg) enables the formation of 3D multicellular aggregates, serving as advanced models for tissue and disease development.
• These 3D models are crucial for cancer research, in vitro metastasis studies, and regenerative medicine, offering alternatives to animal testing.
• New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) leverage microgravity exposure to human cells, supporting biomedical research, pharmacology, toxicology, and radiotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent literature on microgravity-engineered tissues and their applications.
• To discuss the use of microgravity-simulating instruments for generating 3D cell cultures.
• To highlight the potential of these models in advancing translational medicine.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing microgravity-simulating instruments like the Rotating Wall Vessel, Random Positioning Machine, and clinostats.
• Culturing various human cell types, including cancer cells (breast, lung, thyroid, prostate, gastrointestinal) and healthy cells (chondrocytes, stem cells, bone cells, endothelial cells, cardiovascular cells).
• Analyzing the formation and characteristics of 3D spheroids and organoids under microgravity conditions.

Main Results:

• Microgravity exposure promotes the growth of diverse human cells into 3D spheroids and organoids.
• Studies examined various cancer types and healthy cell-derived tissues, demonstrating the versatility of microgravity-based models.
• Data indicate that microgravity-engineered tissues are valuable tools for biomedical research and translational applications.

Conclusions:

• Microgravity-engineered 3D cell cultures provide powerful in vitro models for understanding complex biological processes.
• These models align with the 3Rs principles (replacement, reduction, refinement) by offering alternatives to animal testing.
• The findings support the significant role of microgravity-based New Approach Methodologies in advancing translational medicine on Earth.