The new biological printing method helps create tissue containing vascular networks

Recently, a team of researchers from the Wyss Institute of Biology at Harvard University introduced a new biological printing method that allows the creation of vascular structures and various cell types. This achievement marks an important step towards creating living tissue with full functionality in the laboratory.

Although 3D printing technology has been used to create human tissue, researchers still have difficulties in regenerating thin tissue layers. Previous attempts to create thicker tissue with a size of one-third of a coin still face many difficulties because the cells inside lack oxygen and nutrients and the cell has no way to discharge. residue. As a result, tissue layers lack air and die.

To solve this problem, researchers at the Wyss Institute have used three types of biologically developed inks specially developed with properties borrowed from real living tissue.The first ink uses extracellular matrix , which binds cells together to form tissue. The second ink uses a mixture of extracellular matrix and living cells . The third ink is designed to melt glutinous h. This means that once the team has successfully created the cellular network, it will be cooled, melted and eventually sucked out of the tissue, leaving a network of hollow tubes formed by structure. And this is also the path for blood vessels.

The structure simulates a fundamental property of living tissue, in which the inner cell is maintained by a network of small blood vessels, thin walls, providing oxygen and nutrients and also plays a role of elimination. waste. The team tested simulations and used a model to replicate tissues printed in multiple structures and then create a complex vascular structure from three inks. According to the researchers, this is a structure with very close complexity to human tissue.

3 types of ink corresponding to blue, green and red colors are used to "3D print" the tissue

Professor Don Ingber, director of the Wyss Institute, said: "Tissue regeneration engineers are still waiting for such a method. The ability to shape functional blood vessels in 3D tissues before they are transplanted. only allows the regeneration of thicker tissues, but also increases the ability to link surgery between artificial blood vessels and natural blood vessels to quickly pump blood into transplanted tissues, increasing tissue survival rates. " .

The team's immediate plan for the technology is to focus on creating the closest 3D tissue to live tissue that can be used to test the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceuticals. The Wyss Institute's research has been published in the Advanced Materials issue this month.