PULSE

Project

3D Printing of Ultra-fideLity tissues using Space for anti-ageing solutions on Earth

Acronym

PULSE

Funding

Horizon 2020

Funding scheme

RIA – Research and Innovation action

Start Date

01/03/2023

End Date

31/03/2028

Consortium

Metatissue
Universiteit Maastricht
Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg
SCK CEN – Belgian Nuclear Research Centre 
Space Applications Services
On Srl Impresa Sociale
Medical University of Graz
️Rd Innovation Aps

Eligible Total Cost

4.597.579,00€

Resume

Bioprinting in Space is one of the novel promising and perspective research directions in the rapidly emerging field of bio fabrication. There are several advantages of bioprinting in Space. First, under the conditions of microgravity, it is possible to bioprint constructs employing more fluidic channels and, thus, more biocompatible bio-inks. Second, microgravity conditions enable 3D bioprinting of tissue and organ constructs of more com plex geometries with voids, cavities, and tunnels. Third, a novel scaffold-free, label-free, and nozzle-free technology based on multi-levitation principles can be implemented under the condition of microgravity. The ideal Space bioprinters must be safe, automated, com pact, and user friendly. Thus, there are no doubts that systematic exploration of 3D bioprinting in Space will advance biofabrication and bioprinting technology per se. Vice versa 3D bioprinted tissues could be used to study pathophysiological biological phenomena when exposed to microgravity and cosmic radiation that will be useful on Earth to understand ageing conditioning of tissues, and in space for the crew of deep space manned missions.

In PULSE, we aim at developing a radical new bioprinting technology based on multiple levitation principles and to use Space as an accelerator of ageing on Earth. As a proof of concept study, we will use this newly developed bioprinting technology to create cardiac 3D in vitro models able to better mimic cardiac physiology compared to organoids. We will use such models to study cardiac ageing and test the efficacy of anti-inflammatory/ anti-oxidative drugs with anti-ageing potential.