Technology of printing cells of woodblock prints with the survival rate of nearly 100%

Researchers at the Houston Institute have just developed a cheap method to print living cells with nearly 100% survival . This printing method is quite similar to the ancient Chinese woodblock printing method and it allows to print cells on every surface in 2-dimensional form. While today's inkjet technology can print living cells at a cost of up to $ 10,000 with a cell survival rate of only about 50%, the new technology can create mass cells at a price only. 1 USD.

Block-Cell-Printing or BloC is the new printing technology developed by Houston Research Institute. Due to being in its infancy, BloC has limitations such as slow printing speed, more effort than inkjet technology and 3-way printing is not possible. Researchers say the current technique can print high-resolution patterns with cells at a rate of 5 micrometers and can be done with different types of cells. All have a high survival rate. An average animal cell has a diameter of 10 to 20 micrometers.

Professor Lidong Qin from the Houston Therapeutic Research Institute said: "Cellular printing technology is currently being used in many areas such as pharmaceutical testing and preparation, tissue regeneration, cellular function and communication. between cells - cells Such things can only be done when cells are alive and active, 50 to 80% are the normal survival rates of cells when leaving the printer's stinger. In comparison, we reach nearly 100% with the BloC printing process, and we find that the current technologies are not sufficient to meet the needs of inkjet technology, making a large number of cells vulnerable and We want to invent a tool to help researchers acquire mass cells that are still alive and still be able to cough fully active ".

BloC printing techniques use microscopic physics to guide living cells into a series of J-shaped slots located on a silicon mold. The cells flow in columns and fill these gaps. When a slot is full, they continue to flow to the next slot, creating a groove containing the cells. Cell grooves on the mold surface are arranged according to a predetermined network during production. Once filled with cells, silicon molds can then be used as a rubber stamp. Cells can be printed on a surface, such as an intermediate culture medium.

Currently, Qin has begun testing BloC by printing a grid of brain cells while also examining the development of cancer cells."The cellular network we created can be very useful in neurotransmitter studies and neuronal reconstruction. These studies will help to better understand Alzheimer's disease and degenerative conditions. Other nerves, " Qi said.