Step closer to growing artificial liver
US researchers have moved a step closer to creating a synthetic liver, after building a template for blood vessels to grow into using sugar.
Scientists have long been experimenting with the 3D printing of cells and blood vessels, building up tissue structure layer by layer with artificial cells, but the synthetically engineered cells often die before the tissue is formed.
The technology, in which a 3D printer uses sugar as its building material, could one day be used for transplants. The researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) said the technique was similar to creating the shape of a vase in wax, surrounding it with molten metal and then melting the wax away. But instead of wax, the team used sugar.
Although the researchers did not do any implantation, they said they had wanted to demonstrate that it was possible to build the thicker tissue that could be fed by this network of pipes – and this way, to create a full organ in future.
Prof Martin Birchall, a surgeon scientist at University College London, said the research answered "a lot of fundamental problems in tissue engineering." He said: "Their proposals are quite a way from clinic yet, the next step is going to be testing it on animals, but it is certainly very exciting."
- Virtual Newspaper
- Weather Forecast
Business
Shops
Restaurants
Hotel
