3D printing technology is making great progress in the world materials industry. From common items like bottles to prosthetics can be 3D printed. Only human organs are still too complex. Scientists have tried many times, but the results are mostly unsuccessful. In particular, complex structures such as the heart or lungs often do not retain their texture because of the weight when printing.
To change this situation, we will have to invest in a new and expensive 3D printing system. But some scientists have another idea, that is printing 3D human organs in a weightless environment? Hence, the experts from NASA decided to experiment with creating the heart on the ISS international space station. If successful, this will be a great milestone for the international medical industry.
In fact, this is not the first time the idea of visceral 3D printing in microgravity is given. Most recently, the idea of Techshot, a startup is cooperating with NASA to build biological 3D printers and transfer it to ISS in 5/2019. According to BBC, the company plans to spend the next year testing how it works in space. After obtaining the results, the experts will mainly focus on heart cell printing and open a program that allows other researchers to access this device. Rich Boling, Techshot's vice president said that after testing, the company will bring the printer back to Earth to optimize before continuing to send to space again to print more complex tissue samples.
And if this plan is successful, it will certainly be the solution to the growing demand for human transplants. Not only reducing waiting time, 3D printed hearts are also expected to be suitable for all patients, because 3D printers use their own stem cells to create.
Source: Futurism
