Testing 3D printed biological platform for advancing simulated microgravity and space mechanobiology research

Light-based 3D bioprinting techniques for illuminating the advances of vascular tissue engineering

Vascular tissue engineering faces significant challenges in creating in vitro vascular disease models, implantable vascular grafts, and vascularized tissue/organ constructs due to limitations in manufacturing precision, structural complexity, replicating the composited architecture, and mimicking the mechanical properties of natural vessels. Light-based 3D bioprinting, leveraging the unique advantages of light including high resolution, rapid curing, multi-material adaptability, and tunable photochemistry, offers transformative solutions to these obstacles. With the emergence of diverse light-based 3D bioprinting techniques and innovative strategies, the advances in vascular tissue engineering have been significantly accelerated. This review provides an overview of the human vascular system and its physiological functions, followed by an in-depth discussion of advancements in light-based 3D bioprinting, including light-dominated and light-assisted techniques. We explore the application of these technologies in vascular tissue engineering for creating in vitro vascular disease models recapitulating key pathological features, implantable blood vessel grafts, and tissue analogs with the integration of capillary-like vasculatures. Finally, we provide readers with insights into the future perspectives of light-based 3D bioprinting to revolutionize vascular tissue engineering.

Effects of simulated microgravity on colorectal cancer organoids growth and drug response

Cellular and molecular dynamics of human cells are constantly affected by gravity. Alteration of the gravitational force disturbs the cellular equilibrium, which might modify physiological and molecular characteristics. Nevertheless, biological responses of cancer cells to reduced gravitational force remains obscure. Here, we aimed to comprehend not only transcriptomic patterns but drug responses of colorectal cancer (CRC) under simulated microgravity. We established four organoids directly from CRC patients, and organoids cultured in 3D clinostat were subjected to genome wide expression profiling and drug library screening. Our observations revealed changes in cell morphology and an increase in cell viability under simulated microgravity compared to their static controls. Transcriptomic analysis highlighted a significant dysregulation in the TBC1D3 family of genes. The upregulation of cell proliferation observed under simulated microgravity conditions was further supported by enriched cell cycle processes, as evidenced by the functional clustering of mRNA expressions using cancer hallmark and gene ontology terms. Our drug screening results indicated an enhanced response rate to 5-FU under conditions of simulated microgravity, suggesting potential implications for cancer treatment strategies in simulated microgravity.

Organs in orbit: how tissue chip technology benefits from microgravity, a perspective

Tissue chips have become one of the most potent research tools in the biomedical field. In contrast to conventional research methods, such as 2D cell culture and animal models, tissue chips more directly represent human physiological systems. This allows researchers to study therapeutic outcomes to a high degree of similarity to actual human subjects. Additionally, as rocket technology has advanced and become more accessible, researchers are using the unique properties offered by microgravity to meet specific challenges of modeling tissues on Earth; these include large organoids with sophisticated structures and models to better study aging and disease. This perspective explores the manufacturing and research applications of microgravity tissue chip technology, specifically investigating the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.

Omics Studies of Tumor Cells under Microgravity Conditions

Cancer is defined as a group of diseases characterized by abnormal cell growth, expansion, and progression with metastasis. Various signaling pathways are involved in its development. Malignant tumors exhibit a high morbidity and mortality. Cancer research increased our knowledge about some of the underlying mechanisms, but to this day, our understanding of this disease is unclear. High throughput omics technology and bioinformatics were successful in detecting some of the unknown cancer mechanisms. However, novel groundbreaking research and ideas are necessary. A stay in orbit causes biochemical and molecular biological changes in human cancer cells which are first, and above all, due to microgravity (µg). The µg-environment provides conditions that are not reachable on Earth, which allow researchers to focus on signaling pathways controlling cell growth and metastasis. Cancer research in space already demonstrated how cancer cell-exposure to µg influenced several biological processes being involved in cancer. This novel approach has the potential to fight cancer and to develop future cancer strategies. Space research has been shown to impact biological processes in cancer cells like proliferation, apoptosis, cell survival, adhesion, migration, the cytoskeleton, the extracellular matrix, focal adhesion, and growth factors, among others. This concise review focuses on publications related to genetic, transcriptional, epigenetic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies on tumor cells exposed to real space conditions or to simulated µg using simulation devices. We discuss all omics studies investigating different tumor cell types from the brain and hematological system, sarcomas, as well as thyroid, prostate, breast, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and lung cancers, in order to gain new and innovative ideas for understanding the basic biology of cancer.

Potential Roles of YAP/TAZ Mechanotransduction in Spaceflight-Induced Liver Dysfunction

Microgravity exposure during spaceflight causes the disordered regulation of liver function, presenting a specialized mechano-biological coupling process. While YAP/TAZ serves as a typical mechanosensitive pathway involved in hepatocyte metabolism, it remains unclear whether and how it is correlated with microgravity-induced liver dysfunction. Here, we discussed liver function alterations induced by spaceflight or simulated effects of microgravity on Earth. The roles of YAP/TAZ serving as a potential bridge in connecting liver metabolism with microgravity were specifically summarized. Existing evidence indicated that YAP/TAZ target gene expressions were affected by mechanotransductive pathways and phase separation, reasonably speculating that microgravity might regulate YAP/TAZ activation by disrupting these pathways via cytoskeletal remodeling or nuclear deformation, or disturbing condensates formation via diffusion limit, and then breaking liver homeostasis.

Lab-on-a-Chip Technologies for Microgravity Simulation and Space Applications

Gravity plays an important role in the development of life on earth. The effect of gravity on living organisms can be investigated by controlling the magnitude of gravity. Most reduced gravity experiments are conducted on the Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) in the International Space Station (ISS). However, running experiments in ISS face challenges such as high cost, extreme condition, lack of direct accessibility, and long waiting period. Therefore, researchers have developed various ground-based devices and methods to perform reduced gravity experiments. However, the advantage of space conditions for developing new drugs, vaccines, and chemical applications requires more attention and new research. Advancements in conventional methods and the development of new methods are necessary to fulfil these demands. The advantages of Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) devices make them an attractive option for simulating microgravity. This paper briefly reviews the advancement of LOC technologies for simulating microgravity in an earth-based laboratory.