Scientists have created a bioreactor capable of growing liver tissue in microgravity.

American scientists have created a bioreactor capable of growing liver tissue in microgravity. This project is being implemented to explore the possibility of using microgravity for more efficient cell growth, which can greatly simplify the creation of full-fledged organs for transplantation. The bioreactor, operating in automatic mode, will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025.

The peculiarity of this bioreactor is that in microgravity, cells can grow without using additional supporting structures that are necessary on Earth. This allows scientists to solve problems related to the creation of complex organs, such as the liver, which requires a vascular network for normal functioning. The grown tissues will be able to perform their physiological functions, including cleansing the blood of toxins.

Scientists plan to grow miniature copies of the liver on board the ISS, where they will be tested for their ability to function as a full-fledged organ. These tissues, if the experiment is successful, can become the basis for the development of bioimplants that will be used in medicine.

Previous experiments have shown that microgravity helps to circumvent many of the limitations faced by scientists on Earth. In addition, the development of this bioreactor could have a significant impact on the future of medical technology.

If it is possible to create viable organs in space, it will open up new horizons in the field of organ transplantation and restoration, both for people on Earth and for astronauts on deep space missions. Thus, the bioreactor on board the ISS can be an important step towards the creation of artificial organs that can solve the problem of shortage of donor organs and help in the treatment of various diseases.

Source: New-Science.ru