Magnetic 3D Bioprinter Being Developed By Russian Scientists For Space Use

Russian researchers in collaboration with the country's national space agency are making a magnetic 3D bioprinter that will enable the creation of living tissue in zero gravity aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The, until now, one of a kind technology will be formulated in cooperation between the United Rocket and Space Corporation, which is a component of the Roscosmos and 3D Bioprinting Solutions, which is a resident of the Skolkovo Innovation Center.

"The development of a magnetic bioprinter will allow printing tissue and organ constructs which are hypersensitive to the effects of space radiation - sentinel-bodies (eg, thyroid gland) - for biomonitoring of the negative effect of cosmic radiation in the conditions of a prolonged stay in space and for the development of the preventive countermeasures," a 3D Bioprinting Solutions press release said. Incidentally, the contract with the space corporation was signed on Monday, August 1.

The team of researchers wants to send the unique technology to the International Space Station by 2018. According to the researching scientists, the magnetic 3D bioprinter could be eventually used to rectify the damaged organs and tissues of astronauts during long hauls of space flights. Vladimir Mironov, Director of United Rocket and Space Corporation, reportedly feels that the unique technology will also be advantageous for human exploration of other planets in the future. Therefore, the development of the technology implies that it could be a good solution for the obstacles which may pose a hindrance for the Mars mission, especially when it will come to cost cutting in terms of sending necessary supplies into space because then only the basics will have to be sent for on-demand 3D printing.

Moreover, the scientists feel that the innovative technology will also have many beneficial uses on Earth itself and can be used to save the lives of people with the fast process of printing human organs and tissue. Additionally, according to company representatives, magnetic 3D bioprinting will also give researchers the chance to explore new approaches in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.