3D Bioprinting in Reduced Gravity for Tissue Maturation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bioprinting technologies face challenges in maintaining tissue shape and structure due to gravitational forces, leading to deformation and structural failure, especially when using low-viscosity bioinks, which are necessary for printing complex geometries and promoting cell interaction in reduced gravity environments.
Innovation Solution
A biomanufacturing system and method optimized for reduced gravity environments, utilizing a 3D bioprinter and cell culturing bioreactor that employs low-viscosity bioinks (1-10,000,000 centipoise) to print tissues without external support structures, allowing for faster printing, improved cell motility, and enhanced tissue maturation, while maintaining complex geometries and enclosed voids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If low-viscosity bioinks are used to print complex geometries and promote cell interaction, then cell motility and tissue maturation are improved, but tissue shape and structure deform under gravitational forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the anti-weight principle by operating the bioprinting system in a reduced gravity environment (microgravity or partial gravity), which counteracts the gravitational forces that cause tissue deformation. This allows low-viscosity bioinks to be used without the detrimental effects of gravity-induced deformation, enabling both improved cell motility and maintenance of tissue shape simultaneously.
2Stability of the object's composition
If external support structures are used to maintain tissue shape, then structural stability is improved, but printing speed decreases and support structures may remain inside tissue
Solution Approach 1:
By operating in a reduced gravity environment, the patent eliminates the need for external support structures that would be required in terrestrial gravity to prevent deformation. The absence of strong gravitational forces allows tissues to maintain their shape inherently, enabling faster printing without compromising structural stability, and avoiding the risk of support structures remaining embedded in the tissue.
3Shape
If high-viscosity bioinks are used to maintain tissue structure in gravity, then shape stability is improved, but cell interaction and complex geometry printing are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The reduced gravity environment counteracts the gravitational forces that would cause deformation of low-viscosity bioinks, allowing the use of these materials to print complex geometries and enclose voids. This enables both shape stability and complex geometry capability to be achieved simultaneously, as the bioinks maintain their printed structures without requiring high viscosity for gravitational support.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for the printing and maturation of living tissue in an Earth-referenced reduced gravity environment such as that found on a spacecraft or on other celestial bodies. The printing may be three-dimensional structures. The printed structures may be manufactured from low viscosity biomaterials.