Bioprinting and stem cell studies highlight space station research

3D bioprinting and stem cell research were the main topics aboard the International Space Station on Thursday, with Expedition 74 crew members also photographing growing plants and lab windows while packing a U.S. cargo spacecraft. NASA flight engineer Jessica Meir and ESA flight engineer Sophie Adenot tested a 3D bioprinter inside the Kibo laboratory module; Adenot mixed cartilage cell samples with bio-ink and handed them to Meir to insert into a bioprinter cartridge to print human tissue.

The biotechnology device may advance regenerative medicine, enabling on-demand, personalized medical implants using a patient’s own cells. Later in her shift, Meir nourished blood stem cell samples inside Kibo’s Life Science Glovebox; the samples are growing in a research incubator to help doctors learn how to manufacture and commercialize space-designed therapies for blood cancers and immune diseases.

Adenot then joined NASA flight engineer Jack Hathaway to pack cargo inside a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to Harmony’s forward port.

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