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3D printing of bone tissue on the International Space Station Russia began animal transplantation experiments

According to the Russian satellite network reported on the 3rd, Yusev Jesuani, managing partner of the Russian 3D Bioprinting Solutions company , said in an interview that Russian scientists have begun experiments to transplant bone tissue obtained in space to rats.

"The first group has completed surgery, transplanted them with different materials, and the animals have returned to the enclosure," he said. He explained that more than 50 rats were used in the experiment, dividing them into several groups.

The Associated Press released a set of images of astronauts walking in space on June 2, local time, and two members of the International Space Station, Russian astronauts Oleg Nowitzki and Peter Dubrov, performed a spacewalk to replace the battery.

First, the surgeons punched a hole in the skull of each rat with a diameter of about 1.5 millimeters. Scientists chose this bone hole because it is one of the most difficult defects to heal. The bone hole is then transplanted with different materials: eight calcium phosphate, or tricalcium phosphate, obtained in space or on Earth. One group of rats did not do any transplantation.

Jessuani added: "One of the main purposes of the experiment was to compare materials from space and Earth to understand how we could use them in regenerative medicine. ”

3D printing of bone tissue on the International Space Station Russia began animal transplantation experiments

China News Service reporter Tang Yanjun photographed ">

Data chart: Orthopedic 3D printing minimally invasive orthopedic guide plate unveiled in China. Photo by Tang Yanjun, a reporter of China News Service

According to reports, scientists will check the bone tissue recovery of rats one month, three months and six months after surgery. For the experimenters, Chsuani said, it was important to confirm that the bone tissue not only recovered, but did not grow more than needed, that is, did not form the so-called scab.

The experiment was supposed to begin in April 2020, when material printed on a 3D bioprinter on the International Space Station had just arrived on Earth. But COVID-19 has disrupted scientists' plans because it's not easy to organize a lot of surgery and keep observing so many animals.

Source: China News Network

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