In America, began to print the vessels using a 3D printer
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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To grow new human tissues in the laboratory is very difficult, because it is very laborious and precise work. In addition to recreating natural structures, each tissue or organ must be artificially provided with a vascular network, which is extremely difficult. If this is not done, food and oxygen can not enter the new tissue.
Specialists representing the University of California, San Diego, have developed a unique technique for fine 3D printing of the capillary and fine-meshed network. The walls of the vessels are formed at a thickness of up to 600 microns.
A new technique was called "microscopic continuous optical biological printing". It will be used to recreate the network of vessels for artificially grown organs or tissues with different structures.
The essence of the new technique is as follows: the cells of the required variety are immersed in a special hydrogel, then with the help of ultra-violet rays and the temperature effect this mass becomes denser, acquiring the necessary variant of the three-dimensional structure.
Throughout the process, the cells remain alive and functionally capable: in the future they develop and fill the 3D frame.
During experiments on rodents, scientists transplanted artificially created vessels to experimental mice. At the same time, tremendous results were demonstrated: new vessels were fully established after 14 days, and the wound surface was prolonged much faster than usual.
Studies were conducted under the guidance of Dr. Nanoengineer Shaoshen Chan. According to him, this experiment allowed solving many problems of vascular biotechnologies. Now it becomes clear how it is possible to recreate entire organs and individual tissues, in which there would be a full functioning system of the vasculature. The issue of the introduction of vessels into separate parts of the body is also clarified.
"The overwhelming number of organs and tissues in the human body is permeated with blood vessels - this is necessary for the normal function and life of the organ. Vessels have always been considered the most vulnerable place in biotechnology and transplant practice. Because of this, many scientific discoveries were not completed, and scientists just stumbled in one place. Now the 3D-printing of the vascular network created by us completely solves the problem that arose earlier, "Professor Chen at the university press conference commented.
It is worth mentioning that Dr. Chen has been the main leader of the laboratory of nanobiomaterial, biological print and tissue biotechnology at the University of California, San Diego, for many years. Already for many years he tried to recreate organs with full-fledged vascular filling.
To date, scientists under the leadership of the professor continue their studies. Now they have to improve the transport functionality of artificially created vessels. Also, specialists are working on a new invention - this is the production of a vascular network from the patient's stem cells.
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