Micro-masonry techniques: using the "biological building blocks" to build "artificial organ"

According to news reports, MIT biological engineers created a new assembling artificial tissue: use ' biological methods of building blocks ' — cell blocks for stuffing, build artificial organs architecture.

For a long time, the biological tissue engineering has vowed to build a new organ to replace bad loss liver, blood and other body parts.

However, how to make the cells grown in a lab dish three-dimensional shapes instead of leveling as a major obstacle. MIT-Harvard University Health Science and technology (HST) researchers have proposed a new approach to overcoming this challenge: the living cells are encapsulated in a cube and then arranged within a three-dimensional structure, just like kids with building blocks to build houses.

This is referred to as "micro-masonry (micromasonry)" new technology uses a similar concrete with gel-like substance that makes the cell as it cured with the "bricks".

Research related description from HST Assistant Professor Ali El House · branch Hyde, and HST former postdoctoral Javier · Gómez · Fernandez last week was published on the online journal of advanced materials.

This micro-cell tiles have build artificial tissue or other type of medical device's potential, Jennifer · Elli saifu says, she is Johns Hopkins University, Associate Professor of biomedical engineering, did not participate in this study.

She said: "these micro-cell brick body is very elegant, and can build in flexibility, it is very creative. ”

You can control structure

To obtain tissue engineering of individual cells, researchers must first break the Organization, uses enzymes to digest the decomposition of the cells in a Department of extracellular substances.

However, once the cells from the teeth, it's hard to be assembled to the analog nature of micro-structure system.

Some scientists have successfully create such as skin, cartilage or adhere to the bladder, biodegradable foam bracket for easy organization.

"They are available, but often lack control of micro-structural systems" Division Hyde El House Castellani, he also served as Brigham Women's Hospital, Assistant Professor. "You don't get with the normal tissue equally complex man-made organization. ”

HST researchers will cells are encapsulated in a lot of medical applications of polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) to create the "biological building blocks."

They are liquid form, the light turns into a polymer gel, so when coated with polyethylene glycol of cells see light, polymer curing and in which the cells, forming a package length 100 to 500 microns of the cube. Once the cell formation in the form of a cube, you can use the template to be arranged specific shapes, template by polymer silicone (PDMS), the materials in a variety of medical devices are applied. Templates and cell cube together again coated polyethylene glycol, along with the polymer itself firmly attached to the surface in the template, it is like the cells of a cube as the glue sticks and together.

Question to cells in a cube well-decorated, they once again see the light, liquid polymer curing together with cube.

Template is removed, the cells of a cube is a new structure. Use this method, Gomez · Fernandez and Hyde, made El House up for tubular capillary function, or help to overcome the most enduring works of artificial organs one issue, namely the absence of timely and blood supply. "If you built an organ, but cannot provide nutrients, so it will die," is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University's Gomes · Fernandez said. They hope that their work will also lead the manufacture of artificial liver or heart tissue.

Other researchers have developed an organ called ' print ' technology, you can create a complex three-dimensional organization but the whole process needs a yet to be widely used for robotic devices.

This new technology does not require any special equipment. "You can be in any of the application of the technology lab copy," Gomez · Fernandez said. "It is very simple. ”

To make these man-made organizations to clinical application, "short term for the next step is to pay attention to the different cell types and organizational growth," Elli saifu said.

Researchers are currently doing, and they also explores the application of different polymer, polyethylene glycol and substitution on cell location provides more control.