NASA Is Constructing Part Of Human Knee In The ISS Via Bioprinter Sent To Space

Bioprinting is soaring to new heights, literally, with the construction of the first human body part in space.
 
The expedition is led by NASA in conjunction with aerospace manufacturer Redwire and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Center for Biotechnology (4DBio3). Together, they are sending the 3D BioFabrication Facility (BFF) to the International Space Station to create a meniscus.
 
This research is going towards helping US soldiers back on Earth who, unfortunately, face meniscal tears regularly.
 
So why go to outer space to print an anatomical part if it is to help humans on Earth? That’s because the gravity on Earth is too strong for printed tissue to hold up. When performing such tasks on our home planet, the constructed body part usually dissolves into a puddle thanks to the pressure of gravity.
 
However, up in space, the microgravity conditions allow cavities like one found in a heart or blood vessels to take shape, so the knee will have the perfect environment to be built in before it’s transported down.
 
The ink constitutes human stem cells, proteins, and other growth factors. Eventually, as a “long-term goal,” Redwire hopes to progress into growing organs.
 
The research will go a long way in helping scientists better understand how muscles and organs can be effectively built for use. Redwire also notes that drug testing in space can also be done if parts of a human can be grown and tested.
 
BFF is set to launch into space on November 6 from NASA’s Wallops Island Spaceport.
 
 
 
[via Engadget and Redwire/Business Wire, Photo 60663366 © Puwadol Jaturawutthichai | Dreamstime.com]