A new discovery has been made in the medical world, which has managed to cover great distances in a short time with the development of technology. Scientists have developed a special ‘bio-ink’ that can be used to fabricate artificial organs.
Developed by scientists from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, the bio-ink has a significant difference from other bio-inks we’ve seen so far. The new bio-ink is solidified by temperature, thus promising higher biocompatibility than other bio-inks.
How is the new bio-ink used?
Bio-inks developed to date are usually cured by means such as UV light or chemical interactions. But UV light carries the risk of damaging the DNA of the cells in the artificial organ. Likewise, chemical interactions can lead to cell damage and poisoning.
The new method, in which the bio-ink is cured by temperature, is made possible by the “poly(organophosphazene)-based temperature sensitive hydrogel”. This material, which is in liquid form, functions at low temperatures.
Thanks to this feature of the material, artificial organs or artificial tissues to be produced can achieve physical endurance at body temperature. There is no need to resort to methods such as UV light and chemical interaction for the material to harden.
Putting their new material to the test, the scientists created a 3D skeleton by preparing a bio-ink containing growth proteins. They then placed it on the damaged skull of a mouse. The mouse’s skull regenerated through normal bone regeneration and the damage was gone.
Biological pressures are also critical to space travel:
As humanity has begun to prepare for long-term space travels like Mars, biological pressures will also be of great importance in these journeys. Precautions will be taken against the effects of radiation and low gravity, and even bone tissue will be protected from damage.
Of course, its greatest benefit will be against the worldwide organ shortage, for which the scientific world has worked hard for years to find a cure. Transplants with artificial organs can be done in a very short time.
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