Experiments with liver tissue on the International Space Station may eventually provide liver substitutes for organ transplants, researchers reported at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Conference in San Francisco.
They said experiments conducted so far suggest that the unique conditions of low-Earth orbit, 1,200 miles from Earth, will help liver tissue self-assemble and enhance its functions compared to Earth-based methods.
Dr. Tammy Chang, who led the study team from the University of California, San Francisco, said in a statement, “This represents a very important step towards creating starting tissue that can be used as an alternative or supplement to traditional liver transplants.”
The cells created during the experiments come from human cells that are modified to function like embryonic stem cells, meaning they can turn into many different cell types.
The researchers explained that unlike tissue engineering methods on Earth, the lack of gravity allows cells to float freely and organize naturally, leading to more physiologically accurate tissues.
The researchers developed a custom bioreactor, which they called the “tissue orbit,” to include experimental tissues, to simulate the natural process of blood flow to human tissues.
Researchers are also working on advanced cooling technologies to allow manufactured tissues to be transported from space to Earth safely, and to maintain them at a temperature below zero without damaging them. They said that this technique could extend the shelf life of manufactured tissues.