Bioprinting in orbit

The experiment on 3D bioprinting on the ISS is planned to be carried out in a short time

RSC Energia has launched a large-scale project to reduce the implementation time of the Magnetic 3D Bioprinter space experiment on the Russian segment of the ISS. It is attended by representatives of the State Corporation ROSCOSMOS, RSC Energia, TsNIIMash, as well as the customer of the experiment – the 3D Bioprinting Solutions laboratory.

The main purpose of the first commercial experiment "Magnetic 3D Bioprinter" on the ISS RS is to test a new method of biofacturing three-dimensional tissue structures in zero gravity. All currently existing bioprinters work on the principle of additive, i.e. layer-by-layer production. In space, under microgravity conditions, it is possible to apply a fundamentally new approach – the "formative" production of tissue constructs and organoids. Developed by the laboratory of biotechnological research "3D Bioprinting Solutions" magnetic bioprinter will allow you to create organoids in zero gravity, including sensitive to radiation.

The results of the planned experiment will be used to further explore the possibilities of creating more complex anatomical structures and developing systems to protect astronauts from cosmic radiation during long-term manned flights.

– Taking into account the current dynamics, the work on the experiment requires at least four years, but in order to maintain leadership in this area, the customer needs to meet a shorter deadline, - says the head of the scientific and technical center "Targeted use of manned space complexes" Alexander Markov. – Therefore, all the necessary resources were connected to this task: the specialized thematic divisions of RSC Energia, the business development and commercialization unit of the State Corporation ROSCOSMOS.

– For the first time, the project implementation team included representatives of a commercial customer, who, together with the rest of the participants, plunged into the study of all stages of the experiment, – said Andrey Divaev, Deputy Director of the Business Systems Department of ROSCOSMOS State Corporation. – Using the methodology of the ROSCOSMOS production system, we identified optimization zones, and the ideas proposed by the project team allowed us to identify reserves for reducing the duration of the experiment by almost three years.

The project participants formulated and worked out a number of proposals to reduce the duration of the experiment: conducting crew training on a specially created simulator model of a bioprinter, and not on a real sample; parallelizing the processes of approving technical specifications for scientific equipment with the CST examination procedure, etc.

– Such projects require clear coordination of all participants in the process, and this is just the unique case when it was possible to bring the whole team together to solve the applied tasks of the project, – says Managing partner of 3D Bioprinting Solutions Yusef Hesuani. – The result of this work was the creation of an end-to-end work schedule with a clear analysis of risks and problems, as well as measures to eliminate them, which are planned to be implemented for the successful implementation of the experiment.

Vladimir Solntsev, General Director of RSC Energia, approved the implementation schedule during the project defense and noted the high level of work carried out.

– We will use this scheme for all other commercial space experiments in order to implement the most daring and ambitious projects in the optimal time, – Vladimir Lvovich said in conclusion.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  27.09.2017