Microdispensing specialistnScrypt和航空公司公司TechShothave successfully completed the first functional 3D bioprinting experiment in space. Using the BioFabrication Facility (BFF) on board the ISS, with the help of the non-profitGeneva Foundation和Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences（USU），他们3D生物刻有人类的膝盖弯面条作为4D Bio3程序。突破性实验是一日生产的长期计划的一部分。
太空中的3D生物打印
BFF已被记录为世界上第一个能够在太空中制造人体组织的3D打印机。它使用多能干细胞通过指定模式通过精确组织生物焦的细层（几微米）来产生可行的组织。随着时间的流逝，培养干细胞并分化为所需的人类细胞，最终形成组织培养物。由于重力相对较强的力量，这是极其困难（到目前为止不可能）在地球上完成的。在地球上，软组织在自己的体重下崩溃，使研究人员散发出混乱的细胞连接。在ISS上，地球的重力拉力要弱得多，3D打印的软组织能够保持其形状。
Dr. Joel Gaston, Senior Research Scientist on the experiment, stated: “The manufacture of soft human tissue, such as hearts and other organs, has proven difficult due to the conflicting needs for bioinks to be printable, biologically relevant, and possess the desired tissue mechanical properties.”
To meniscus and beyond
根据日内瓦基金会的说法，半月板伤害是军队中最常见的骨科伤害之一。当膝盖弯面泪时，它会失去吸收功能，从而导致关节炎和膝盖疼痛。在军事人员中，半月板伤害比普通人群高10倍，这归因于兵役的严重身体。通过进一步开发3D印刷的弯月面研究，并最终将其带入地球上其他恶劣的环境，研究人员可以使用它来帮助驻扎在远离“国土”医疗资源的偏远地区的美国服务成员。
4D BIO3计划主管Vincent Ho博士解释说：“我们在严峻的军事环境（名望）计划中的制造探讨了3D打印健康相关产品在各种偏远环境中的挑战，在这些环境中经常部署我们的服务成员。去年夏天，我们在非洲沙漠热量进行的首次试点研究中成功地打印了3D印刷的手术器械，生物活性绷带，解剖模型和人弯面包组织。在第二次试点研究中，我们预计学习有价值的经验教训，就ISS在空间中的3D生物制作的挑战和好处。我们将来有计划在丛林，水生，北极和高空设置中执行类似的实验。”
The BFF was initially launched in July of 2019, and has received a number of upgrades over the course of a year. Earlier in 2020, the 3D BFF was fitted witha set of new3D printed ceramic fluid manifoldsto replace the previously used printed polymers. The manifolds are used to supply the printed tissues with the nutrients they require to grow into usable patches. Elsewhere in orbit,China has successfully completed its first set of microgravity 3D printing tests。这些测试涉及产生连续的碳纤维增强聚合物复合材料，据报道这是零G中从未做过的。
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Featured image shows astronaut Andrew Morgan 3D printing the human knee meniscus in space. Photo via NASA.
