Bioprinting of Mammalian and Non-Mammalian Cells for Applications in Space Exploration
Michael Gelinsky,
Professor and Head,
Technische Universität Dresden
Bioprinting has developed tremendously over the last 10-15 years. While the technology at the beginning has been investigated only for biomedical applications, utilizing human or other mammalian cells, in the meanwhile also non-mammalian cells like green algae, cyanobacteria or plant-derived cells have been bioprinted successfully. This opens new opportunities for applications in biotechnology. Both is also of interest for space flight: for long-term space exploratory missions and extra-terrestrial human settlements, e. g. on Moon or Mars, the astronauts must be able to treat health problems on site as a fast return to Earth is impossible. 3D bioprinting is a promising technology which might allow fabrication of tissue constructs like skin and bone with limited equipment and materials which mostly could be produced locally. Bioprinted constructs containing algae might be utilized for oxygen production and wastewater treatment. The presentation will give an overview about the work of the lab which has pioneered bioprinting of non-mammalian cells (“green bioprinting”) and which is closely connected to the European Space Agency ESA and the German Space Agency at DLR concerning the investigation of bioprinting for applications in space.
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