In a groundbreaking study from Oxford University, scientists have unveiled a custom-designed 3D printer capable of producing materials that mimic several characteristics of living tissues. This innovative material, composed of thousands of interconnected water droplets encased in lipid films, showcases the potential to perform functions akin to human cells.
Dubbed ‘droplet networks,’ these structures represent a significant leap forward in the realm of synthetic biology. They hold promise for revolutionizing drug delivery systems by targeting specific areas within the body and may even pave the way for repairing or replacing damaged tissues in the future. Unlike other artificial tissue technologies that rely on stem cells, these droplet networks are entirely synthetic, devoid of any genetic material, and incapable of replication, sidestepping many of the ethical and biological complications associated with stem cell research.
The findings, published in the latest edition of Science, highlight the team’s success in creating extensive networks comprising tens of thousands of these droplets. Professor Hagan Bayley, the lead researcher from Oxford University’s Department of Chemistry, emphasized that the goal is not to perfectly replicate human tissues but to engineer structures capable of fulfilling their functions. To this end, the team has engineered the droplets to contain protein pores, creating pathways that resemble nerve channels capable of transmitting electrical signals across the network, much like the nervous system in the human body.
Each droplet measures approximately 50 microns in diameter, about five times larger than a typical cell, though the researchers believe it’s possible to reduce their size further. Impressively, these networks have demonstrated stability over several weeks, underscoring their potential durability and applicability in long-term applications.
This pioneering research opens up new avenues in synthetic biology, offering a glimpse into a future where synthetic tissues could play a crucial role in medicine and beyond.
Printing new organs may be part of how we survive the upcoming challenges to our biology as our planet gets more polluted.
