Onboard the ISS put the American biomedical 3D-printer into operation

2020: Carrying out an experiment at the ISS on 3D - printings of human fabrics in the conditions of zero gravity

On May 15, 2020 it became known that the American research company Techshot made the first experiment on 3D - printings of human fabrics in the conditions of zero gravity on the BFF bioprinter developed together with nScrypt company and delivered aboard the International Space Station in July, 2019.

BFF bioprinter. Photo: Techshot

Subject of an experiment became 3D - printing of a part of a meniscus — cartilaginous laying of a knee joint. As the customer the Military-medical university of the USA performing a study program 4D of Bio3 (4-Dimensional Bioprinting, Biofabrication and Biomanufacturing) together with the Geneva fund — the non-profit organization advancing researches in the field of military medicine acted. The choice of a meniscus as an object of an experiment is caused by the frequency of knee injuries among the military personnel.

The astronaut Andrew Morgan making an experiment. Photo: NASA

The first experience proved operability of specially designed additive system in the conditions of zero gravity. Directly the astronaut Andrew Morgan, the diplomaed medical officer and the graduate of the Military-medical university was responsible for accomplishment of an experiment onboard the station. Andrew performed loading of cellular material, and the land team of engineers transferred the file with digital model of a meniscus prepared by the customer. The course of an experiment was traced in real time using the dash camera of the 3D-printer. Shortly the scientific command is going to send aboard the station the second batch of cellular material for a repeated experiment and this time to return the received samples to Earth for detailed studying.

The main task under which the BFF complex (BioFabrication Facility) was developed consists in experienced 3D - printings not of cartilaginous, but functional heart fabrics for the purpose of working off of techniques of additive manufacturing of the transplanted patches, and in the long term and full-fledged bodies if the technology is repaid. Gravitation forced to make experiments in space of scientists: bioprinting on Earth imposes certain restrictions for the size and mass of the printed objects as large hydrogel procurements do not hold a form, spreading under curb weight.

The Russian astronaut Oleg Kononenko working with the bioprinter Body.Avt at the ISS

The additive complex of Techshot and nScrypt companies became the second bioprinter onboard the ISS. The first sample under the name Body.Avt developed by Solutions 3D Bioprinting laboratory works in the Russian segment of the station and represents the compact device collecting cellular constructions using magnetic traps. In one and a half years of operation a system managed to prove to be in experiments on 3D - printings of cartilaginous tissue of the person, tissues of a thyroid gland of a mouse and also muscular and connecting tissue of a rabbit, fish and beef with participation of the American and Israeli colleagues.^[1]

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