3D bioprinting technology is evolving thanks to a new technique developed by a team of Penn State researchers. This advance allows the creation of functional tissue at a speed ten times faster than traditional techniques . The process, which uses cell spheroids as a base, promises to transform regenerative medicine, opening new possibilities for the manufacture of bioprinted organs and custom tissue repair.
Spheroids and the new functional tissue technique
Spheroids, clusters of cells that mimic the cell density of human tissue, have been used for years in bioprinting. However, previous technologies were unable to maintain cell viability at large scale or produce complex tissues efficiently. This new system, called HITS-Bio, uses an array of digitally controlled nozzles to position spheroids precisely and rapidly, enabling the creation of 3D tissues at an unprecedented speed.
The results are impressive. In less than 40 minutes, the team managed to produce a bioprinted cartilage structure with more than 600 spheroids, which would be unthinkable with traditional techniques, which could take days to complete a similar task. In addition, cell viability remained above 90%, a crucial indicator to ensure that the printed tissue is functional.
See how the functional fabric was created. Source: Penn State
Applications in regenerative medicine
This breakthrough has profound implications for regenerative medicine . In addition to its potential use in making functional tissues for transplants, the new technique could enable the creation of personalized models for testing drugs , advance cartilage regeneration, and eventually allow for the creation of artificial organs.
In a first experiment, the researchers printed spheroids directly onto a wound in the skull of a rat model. Using microRNA technology , the spheroids differentiated into bone and accelerated wound healing, which recovered by 96% in just six weeks . This type of technique could be used to repair tissue in a surgical setting in real time.
The Penn State team is not stopping at this first success. One of the next goals is to advance the creation of vascular tissues that could allow the manufacture of functional organs such as the liver. The incorporation of blood vessels will be essential to ensure that the printed tissues are fully functional. This advance and other details of the research were published in the journal Nature Communications , as mentioned in the news.
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Source and photo: Penn State
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