ESA – 3D-bioprinted blood vessel

This mannequin blood vessel was made utilizing 3D bioprinting to assist examine how weightlessness adjustments the cardiovascular techniques of astronauts in orbit.

Microgravity alters the human physique in myriad methods, together with adjustments to blood circulation by way of the physique, elevated danger of blood clots and even the form of the guts, which grows extra spherical over time. These bioprinted fashions can be used to evaluate the mechanics of those adjustments.

“We used a mix of sodium alginate and gelatine as ‘bio-ink’, with a shower of calcium chloride to function a help for the printed construction,” explains Benedetto Caracci, biomedical engineering pupil on the University of Pavia and present trainee at ESA’s ESTEC technical centre, main this ESA-supported examine, generally known as ‘Particular’: the affect of SPacE CondItions on ArteriaL biology utilizing a bioprinted vessel mannequin.

“It’s a problem for the tender biofabricated construction to retain its desired form following extrusion, so we utilized the FRESH – ‘freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels’ – 3D bioprinting technique, offering a short lived help that may then be eliminated after the print course of.”

As soon as these high-resolution blood vessel fashions are full they are going to be subjected to preliminary examination, together with micro-CT scans to examine their exterior and inner dimensions, porosity, materials density distribution, and roughness; tensile take a look at and dynamic mechanical evaluation to check their general energy and elasticity; and fluid dynamics testing the place a blood-like liquid can be pumped by way of them.

Subsequent the fashions can be positioned in Random Positioning Machines – which constantly change their orientation relative to the bottom, to simulate weightlessness – in ESA’s Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation Laboratory to see how their construction and functioning evolves. They can even be subjected to sustained hypergravity utilizing the Lab’s Giant Diameter Centrifuge.

Sooner or later the FRESH 3D bioprinting method is also used to check the effectiveness of medication and the remedy of vascular ailments each on Earth and in area.