Human tissue in space for transplant medicine

A resupplying space mission and human tissue on board started from the international space station Cape Canaveral in the USA. The stem cells of the University of Zurich are in 250 test tubes. These should then develop into bones, cartilage and other organs during the one-month stay in space. Professor Oliver Ullrich and Cora Thiel test their innovative concept of fabric production in zero gravity. This happened in favor of transplant medicine and as an alternative to animal testing.

Human tissue grows faster in space

space traveler in front of his ship in space

Contrary to popular belief, the cost of transportation to space no longer increases. “For space projects, the cost drivers are the customized hardware and the bureaucracy,” says Ullrich, professor of anatomy at UZH and director of the UZH Space Hub. He therefore consciously relies on established medical series products for devices and instruments. Ullrich is convinced of the future advantages of space travel: “In a few decades, mankind will use near-Earth orbit as a routine place for research, development and production.”

researcher organizes human tissue and stem cells in test tubes

If the test project is successful, the researchers plan to gradually switch from a small laboratory to a larger production scale. In addition, they will be able to use the innovative process to generate tissue transplants such as cartilage or new liver cells from stem cells in space. Accordingly, they will remove human tissue from individual patients in a routine procedure. According to Oliver Ullrich, there is an additional application in precise medicine. With artificially produced autologous human tissue, the scientists could determine which combination of active ingredients is best suited for the patient in question. In addition, such a development of organ-like structures in space could help to reduce the number of animal experiments.

satellite dish in the desert space mission

The scientists used weightlessness as a tool. Physical forces such as gravity influence how stem cells differentiate and how tissue formation and regeneration is organized. The researchers assume that due to the low gravity on board the ISS, newly formed cells will organize themselves as three-dimensional human tissue without additional nutrient medium or other auxiliary structures. The experiment takes place in a mobile mini laboratory. The module consists of a closed and sterile system. In this, the stem cells can multiply and differentiate at a constant temperature.

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