3D-printed blood vessels have learned to grow capillaries

Nikolay Vorontsov, N+1 

Researchers from Livermore National Laboratory have developed a method of 3D printing blood vessels, which after a while independently grow a network of capillaries. This is reported on the laboratory's website (Researchers 3D print 'living' blood vessels).

When printing, living cells and bio-ink with nutrients are used, which contribute to the independent development of cellular structures. According to the researchers, this approach allows for the subsequent development of the circulatory system after the printing of the main vessels. At the same time, the capillaries formed in such a system are quite functional and can supply the surrounding tissues with nutrients. Other details about the operation of the system are not reported.

According to the authors, it is too early to talk about the practical application of the technology, since at this stage of three-year studies so far it is possible to obtain only an uncontrollably growing network of blood vessels. Nevertheless, the researchers expect to refine the technology of independent vascular growth in order to predict the direction and structure of the development of the capillary network.

The researchers believe that such a vessel printing technology will be useful in the future in the fields of transplantology and toxicology, as well as when testing medicines in the laboratory.

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09.12.2015