Part 7/11:
Interestingly, space offers unique advantages for bioprinting. The International Space Station hosts experiments where NASA astronauts are attempting to print tissues and organs in a microgravity environment. Without gravity-induced structural collapse, cells can be printed directly into tissues without depending on scaffolds—support structures often necessary on Earth but potentially harmful to cell health.
This approach could revolutionize organ fabrication by allowing cells to grow and develop more naturally, enabling better structural integrity and functionality. However, funding remains a significant barrier, meaning that space bioprinting of organs is still a future prospect.