Growing blood vessels in space: Preparation studies of the SPHEROIDS project using related ground-based studies

Marcus Krüger, Sascha Kopp, Markus Wehland, Johann Bauer, Sarah Baatout, Marjan Moreels, Marcel Egli, Thomas J. Corydon, Manfred Infanger, Daniela Grimm

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    Endothelial cells (ECs) grow as single layers on the bottom surface of cell culture flasks under normal (1g) culture conditions. In numerous experiments using simulated microgravity we noticed that the ECs formed three-dimensional, tube-like cell aggregates resembling the intima of small, rudimentary blood vessels. The SPHEROIDS project has now shown that similar processes occur in space. For the first time, we were able to observe scaffoldfree growth of human ECs into multicellular spheroids and tubular structures during an experiment in real microgravity. With further investigation of the space samples we hope to understand endothelial 3D growth and to improve the in vitro engineering of biocompatible vessels which could be used in surgery.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)267–272
    JournalActa Astronautica
    Volume159
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 21 Mar 2019

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