Abstract

Bioprinting of Living Tissue Constructs For Space Exploration

Michael Gelinsky, Professor and Head, Technische Universität Dresden

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. The presentation will give an overview about a study on bioprinting for space exploration which recently was carried out for the European Space Agency (ESA). We have investigated different bioprinting technologies, suitable biomaterials and also possible medical scenarios in which bioprinting might become an important tool.