The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) is embarking on a groundbreaking experiment in collaboration with the ISS National Lab to investigate the behavior of 3D bioprinted liver tissue constructs, complete with vascular channels, in the unique environment of microgravity aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This project, supported by the ISS National Laboratory and scheduled to launch on SpaceX’s 33rd Commercial Resupply Services mission under NASA’s contract, aims to advance the development of artificial livers by studying vascularization in microgravity.
Bioprinting technology enables the creation of intricate 3D structures using living human cells, allowing for the construction of functional replicas of human tissues and organs. In the case of the liver, which features intricate vascular networks, WFIRM researchers have successfully engineered liver tissue constructs with functional vascular channels that have shown viability for up to 30 days in terrestrial laboratories. However, on Earth, the challenge lies in maintaining the viability of large, thick bioprinted tissue constructs due to limitations in achieving proper vascularization, which is crucial for supplying oxygen and nutrients and removing wastes to sustain tissue function over time.
Microgravity presents a unique setting where cell distribution, behavior, and adherence properties may undergo changes, offering valuable insights into enhancing the manufacturing of durable tissues for disease research and therapeutic applications on Earth. By leveraging Redwire Space’s Multi-Use Variable-Gravity Platform (MVP) facility, the experiment aims to investigate whether microgravity-induced alterations in cell behavior could potentially enhance tissue development and maturation, paving the way for advancements in tissue engineering on Earth and potentially enabling the growth of biomanufactured tissues and organs in space for transplantation purposes.
Teams from WFIRM, namely Team Winston and Team WFIRM, have utilized 3D printing technologies to fabricate their tissue constructs as part of NASA’s Vascular Tissue Challenge, a competition designed to accelerate tissue engineering innovations for the benefit of space exploration and terrestrial regenerative medicine technologies. Both teams have secured a total of $400,000 in research funding through the competition and have earned the opportunity to test their innovations aboard the ISS. Team Winston will be the first to transport their innovation to space, where they will assess the development and functionality of liver and vascular cells within the construct, observing how microgravity influences cell characteristics such as the formation of vascular cell linings within the liver construct.
The Vascular Tissue Challenge, a component of NASA’s Centennial Challenges program within the Space Technology Mission Directorate, was organized by the Methuselah Foundation’s New Organ Alliance with a panel of nine judges specializing in regenerative medicine research, including experts from NASA, the National Institute of Health, the ISS National Lab, and prominent academic researchers. This collaboration aims not only to advance regenerative medicine for enhancing human health on Earth but also to prepare for the demands of space exploration and bolster the future space industry by accelerating innovation.
- The experiment on the ISS will explore the behavior of 3D bioprinted liver tissue constructs with vascular channels in microgravity.
- Microgravity offers a unique environment to study cell behavior and tissue development, potentially improving tissue engineering on Earth.
- Teams from WFIRM have successfully engineered tissue constructs for the Vascular Tissue Challenge, securing research funding and the opportunity to test their innovations in space.
- This collaboration between WFIRM, NASA, and other organizations aims to advance regenerative medicine for both terrestrial applications and space exploration.
Tags: tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, bioprinting
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