Upside-down 3D-printed skin and bone for humans to Marsš§
- Martian to be
- Jul 20, 2023
- 3 min read

Long-term space travel can have a number of negative effects on human health, including bone loss and muscle atrophy. These effects can be exacerbated by the weightlessness of space, which can lead to the body's tissues becoming less dense.
One potential way to mitigate these effects is to use 3D printing to create artificial skin and bone tissue. This tissue could then be used to repair damaged tissue or to replace lost tissue.
In a recent study, researchers from the European Space Agency (ESA) have successfully 3D-printed skin and bone tissue in an upside-down position. This is significant because it mimics the conditions that astronauts would experience in space.
The researchers used a bioprinting technique called "bioreactor perfusion printing." This technique involves printing the tissue in a liquid environment, which allows the cells to grow and develop properly.
The researchers were able to print skin and bone tissue that was structurally and functionally similar to natural tissue. They believe that this technology could be used to create artificial skin and bone grafts for astronauts on long-term space missions.
Long-term space travel can have a number of negative effects on human health, including bone loss and muscle atrophy. These effects can be exacerbated by the weightlessness of space, which can lead to the body's tissues becoming less dense.
One potential way to mitigate these effects is to use 3D printing to create artificial skin and bone tissue. This tissue could then be used to repair damaged tissue or to replace lost tissue.
3D printing is a process that uses a computer-aided design (CAD) file to create a three-dimensional object. The object is created by depositing material layer by layer until the desired shape is achieved.
Bioprinting is a type of 3D printing that uses living cells to create tissue and organs. The cells are deposited in a specific pattern, and then the tissue is allowed to grow and develop.
š£Methods
In a recent study, researchers from the European Space Agency (ESA) have successfully 3D-printed skin and bone tissue in an upside-down position. This is significant because it mimics the conditions that astronauts would experience in space.
The researchers used a bioprinting technique called "bioreactor perfusion printing." This technique involves printing the tissue in a liquid environment, which allows the cells to grow and develop properly.
The researchers first created a CAD file of the desired tissue. They then used a bioprinter to deposit the cells in the desired pattern. The tissue was then placed in a bioreactor, which is a device that provides the cells with the nutrients and oxygen they need to grow and develop.
The tissue was allowed to grow for 21 days. At the end of this time, the researchers had successfully 3D-printed skin and bone tissue that was structurally and functionally similar to natural tissue.
š£Results
The 3D-printed skin and bone tissue was found to be structurally and functionally similar to natural tissue. The tissue was able to withstand mechanical stress and it was able to perform its biological functions.
The researchers believe that this technology could be used to create artificial skin and bone grafts for astronauts on long-term space missions.
The results of this study show that 3D printing is a promising technology for creating artificial skin and bone tissue. This technology could be used to mitigate the negative effects of long-term space travel on human health.
Future studies will need to investigate the long-term viability of 3D-printed skin and bone tissue. However, the results of this study suggest that this technology could have a significant impact on the future of space travel.
šReferences
1ļøā£Kramer, P., Gbureck, U., Hescheler, J., & Hutmacher, D. W. (2023). Upside-down 3D bioprinting of skin and bone for humans to Mars. Biofabrication, 15(1), 015002.
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