Printed 'bio-inks' could revolutionize range of replacement tissues for disease,

[Guest guest]

happy new year lets hope this can help some people in the future

from Henrik in Norway

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5317

here is what the link says:

A Pittsburgh-based research team has created and used an innovative

ink-jet system to print " bio-ink " patterns that direct muscle-

derived stem cells from adult mice to differentiate into both muscle

cells and bone cells. Technology could revolutionize the design of

replacement body tissues and one day benefit millions of people

whose tissues are damaged from a variety of conditions, including

fatal genetic diseases like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), wear

and tear associated with aging joints, accidental trauma, and joint

deterioration due to autoimmune disorders.

" Previously, researchers have been limited to directing stem cells

to differentiate toward multiple lineages in separate culture

vessels. This is not how the body works: the body is one vessel in

which multiple tissues are patterned and formed. The ink-jet

printing technology allows us to precisely engineer multiple unique

microenvironments by patterning bio-inks that could promote

differentiation towards multiple lineages simultaneously, " explained

Phil , research professor at Carnegie Mellon's Institute for

Complex Engineered Systems.

" Controlling what types of cells differentiate from stem cells and

gaining spatial control of stem cell differentiation are important

capabilities if researchers are to engineer replacement tissues that

might be used in treating disease, trauma or genetic abnormalities, "

said Lee Weiss, research professor at Carnegie Mellon's Robotics

Institute.

The custom-built ink-jet printer, developed at Carnegie Mellon's

Robotics Institute, can deposit and immobilize growth factors in

virtually any design, pattern or concentration, laying down patterns

on native extracellular matrix-coated slides (such as fibrin). These

slides are then placed in culture dishes and topped with muscle-

derived stem cells (MDSCs). Based on pattern, dose or factor printed

by the ink-jet, the MDSCs can be directed to differentiate down

various cell-fate differentiation pathways (e.g. bone- or muscle-

like).

The long-term promise of this new technology could be the tailoring

of tissue-engineered regenerative therapies. In preparation for

preclinical studies, the Pittsburgh researchers are combining the

versatile ink-jet system with advanced real-time live cell image

analysis developed at the Robotics Institute and Molecular Biosensor

and Imaging Center to further understand how stem cells

differentiate into bone, muscle and other cell types.

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