Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Bio Ink Jet Printing Muscle And Bone
Many people suffer with parts of their bodies that are just worn out, like hips and knees, or are damaged by disease processes, like arthritic joints. The first steps in being able to create complex body structures have been taken by researchers at Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh. The results were presented on December 10th at the 46th annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in San Diego.
A unique ink-jet printing system using bio-ink that can lay down a pattern of cells that will differentiate into a designed pattern of both bone and muscle cells has been created by a team of scientists from the two universities.
The researchers began with a glass slide with a layer of nurturing proteins as a base. They then used a robotic inkjet-style machine to lay down a specific pattern of tiny droplets of various proteins.
"It is like laying ink on paper," researcher Julie Jadlowiec Phillippi said. "It's a blueprint for cells to live and grow and differentiate with."
Then the muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) from mice were placed on top of this pattern to grow. "Depending on which pattern they are on top of, they become one lineage or another," she remarked.
This system is the first that can lay down a pattern of multiple cell types within the same vessel from a single population of adult stem cells. This system could one day benefit millions of people whose tissues have been damaged from genetic diseases, accidental trauma and even wear-and-tear from aging joints.
"Our findings showed that we successfully engineered MDSCs (muscle-derived stem cells) to become subpopulations of muscle or bone-like cells that were patterned using our bio-ink-jet system," said Phillippi. "This experiment represents a key first step in demonstrating the potential of this technology to learn more about not only the basic biology of how multiple cell types are patterned in the body during development, repair and regeneration, but also for translating adult stem cells into real therapies for patients in the future."
Because the ink-jet system employs such precision, it could be used one day to co-culture multiple MDSC lineages - including bone, muscle and other cell types - in complex, patterned configurations that could be incorporated directly into specific areas of the body in need of repair of multiple tissue types.
Take a look at this article on printing biomaterials with modified ink-jet printers for more about this technology.
Interested in futuristic medical advances?
- Anti-Viral Polymer Kills Flu On Contact
Can paint reduce the transmission of bacteria and flu viruses? - Dr. Google Works For Patients, Doctors
Can search engines replace doctors? - World's First Artificial Human Liver Grown In Lab
Not just cells - a mini-liver.
Via "Inkjet" printer helps organize stem cells and Muscle and bone from an ink-jet printer.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/10/2006)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 4 )
Related News Stories - (" Medical ")
MouthPad Supports Head And Tongue Tracking
'The operation that had transformed half his body... had located the control switchboard in his teeth.'- Alfred Bester, 1956.
Drug Induces Hibernation-Like State In Humans
'... drugged and chilled and stowed in sleep tanks.' - Robert Heinlein, 1951.
Drug To Regenerate Teeth In Humans
'We want to do something to help those who are suffering from tooth loss or absence,' said lead researcher Katsu Takahashi.
Illustrating Classic Heinlein With AI
'Stasis, cold sleep, hibernation, hypothermia, reduced metabolism, call it what you will - the logistics-medicine research teams had found a way to stack people like cordwood and use them when needed.' - Robert Heinlein, 1956
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Mechazilla Arms Catch A Falling Starship, But Check Out SF Landing-ARMS
'...the rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.'
A System To Defeat AI Face Recognition
'...points and patches of light... sliding all over their faces in a programmed manner that had been designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
Robot Hand Separate From Robot
'The crawling, exploring object was V-Stephen's surgeon-hand...'
Hybrid Wind Solar Devices
'...the combined Wind-Suncatcher, like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
Is Optimus Autonomous Or Teleoperated?
'I went to the control room where the three other men were manipulating their mechanical men.'
Robot Masseuse Rubs People The Right Way
'The automatic massager began to fumble gently...'
Solar-Powered Space Trains On The Moon
'The low-slung monorail car, straddling its single track, bored through the shadows on a slowly rising course.'
Drone Deliveries Instead Of Waiters In Restaurants?
'It was a smooth ovoid floating a few inches from the floor...'
Optimus Robot Can Charge Itself
'... he thrust in his charging arm to replenish his store of energy.'
Skip Movewear Arc'teryx AI Pants
'...the terrible Jovian gravity that made each movement an effort.'
'Robovan' Name Already Taken - Elon, Try These
There are alternative names that are probably in the public domain by now.
How Old Are Tesla Designs?
You be the judge.
Is Your Autonomous Tractor Safe?
'The field-minder finished turning the top-soil of a two-thousand-acre field.'
Smart TVs Are Listening!
'You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard...'
Police Drones In China Would Like To Have A Word With You
''OVERRIDE,' the City Fathers said suddenly, without being asked anything at all.'
Oh Great (Part 2), Fence-Climbing Robots
Please, no stingers.
