Healing biochernils
In case of violation of the integrity of the vessel, platelets circulating in the blood migrate to the area of damage and, accumulating, perform their main function – stop bleeding. But their work is not limited to this. They produce growth factors that accelerate the healing of soft tissues – blood vessels, skin, muscles and tendons. Due to this property, platelet-rich plasma has been used to treat some injuries with joint damage and to recover in the postoperative period.
Researchers from the University of Lincoln in Nebraska, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts General Hospital have developed biochernils containing plasma with platelets. This is a composition for three-dimensional printing, which can be used to create implants with regenerative properties. The aim of the work is to create structures that, after transplantation, would release growth factors that initiate healing and regeneration processes.
Inks for three-dimensional printing, enriched with platelets, under a microscope.
Here and further source: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA
New biochernils with platelets secrete growth factors within a few days. When compared with implants printed with ordinary ink, the healing properties of biochernils have shown promising results. In less than a day, they initiated cell migration sufficient to heal 50% of the injury area, while in the control sample, healing covered only 5% of the artificial scratch. Biochernils doubled the migration to the damage zone of mesenchymal stem cells, which can give rise to cartilage, muscles and tendons.
Since timely healing depends on adequate blood supply, the researchers evaluated the ability of biochernils to accelerate vascular regeneration. They found that vascular cells are formed twice as fast and organized into vessel-like tubes, which are longer and more complex than when transplanting tissue from ordinary ink.
The main component of biochernil is a gelatinous substance alginate, which the researchers combined with calcium chloride for testing in experiments so that the printed three–dimensional sample was strong enough and retained its shape. The concentration of calcium chloride increases in the body in the area of injury, and the implant enriched with it after transplantation will be stronger. To demonstrate this process, the scientists printed a soft mesh of biochernils with pure alginate, and then placed it in a solution of calcium chloride. The mesh has lost its elasticity and has become durable.
In order to reduce the risk of an immune rejection reaction, biochernils can be enriched with the patient's own platelets. This is the so-called personalized approach to treatment, which is currently being implemented in many areas of medicine.
Article by N. Faramarzi et al. Patient‐Specific Bioinks for 3D Bioprinting of Tissue Engineering Scaffolds is published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Nebraska Today: Personalized bio-inks boost healing potential of printable body tissue.