Space Bones
Scientists will transplant bone tissue "printed" in space to rats for the first time
In the fall of 2020, Russian scientists are going to perform operations for the first time in the world to transplant bone tissue obtained on a bioprinter in space to rats, managing partner of 3D Bioprinting Solutions Yusef Hesuani told RIA Novosti.
"Experiments with animals will most likely be carried out in the fall, after the necessary checks," Hesuani said.
He noted that on April 10, the next experiment on printing inorganic components of rat bone tissue will begin on the International Space Station (ISS). The company that created the space bioprinter has already conducted a similar experiment in the fall of 2019. Then the samples obtained in zero gravity were returned to Earth and handed over to specialists for study.
If earlier in the course of experiments on the ISS, different tissues were printed (cartilage, bone, muscle), now, due to the high responsibility, they decided to concentrate only on bone research. Hesuani noted that the company does not even plan future experiments in orbit in case it needs to print bone tissue again.
Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Wagner, who will go to the ISS on April 9, will deliver several series on printing bones. The received samples will be returned to Earth on April 17 by the crew currently at the station.
Reserve for the treatment of fractures and oncopathology
On earth, scientists will implant bone tissue in rodents and look at the osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties of materials obtained in space, that is, their ability to initiate additional tissue growth and how well they are suitable as a framework for such growth.
The space material will be implanted in a model of bone defects, most likely in femoral defects. In animals, the middle part of the tubular bone structure will be removed. Scientists chose such a defect because it is considered critical, that is, unable to heal on its own. The material obtained in space will be compared with those that can now be purchased on Earth.
Hesuani clarified that in humans, similar defects can be considered "either large fractures or bone defects associated with the removal of bone tissue in tumors or bone tissue, or in the surrounding soft tissues with metastases to bone tissue."
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru