Scientists plan to send liver tissue to the International Space Station (ISS). Working in microgravity conditions could revolutionize the understanding of tissue engineering and liver transplantation. Research plan presented at the congress American College of Surgeons (ACS)).
In preliminary experiments, scientists showed that in microgravity conditions, liver tissue developed better from stem cells and functioned better than those grown on Earth. This is because stem cells move more freely.
“This represents a critical step towards creating living liver implants that could serve as an alternative or complement to traditional liver transplants,” the scientists said.
Additionally, the conditions on the ISS will improve the liver protection system. In this case, the tissues will be frozen without being damaged, which can extend the shelf life of donor organs.
The experiment is planned to be conducted in February 2025.
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