8 replies to this topic

[Logjam]

This is truly an amazing world, but it hasn't happened yet.  Between various ways of producing IPS cells and technology, we'll be printing organs at some point.  We're probably already there for:

1. Skin — http://www.digitaltr...air-and-sweats/
2. Bladders, Vaginas — Atala did this eons ago; not with printing, but it worked.  http://www.scientifi...in-4-teenagers/ & http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060403/full/news060403-3.html
3. Bone — http://www.nytimes.c...-pigs.html?_r=0

The question is when will this stuff hit the market, and when will we be able to fab more complex organs like kidneys and I don't know ... livers, prostates, and heck, even penises.  A Russian group did a thyroid: https://www.rt.com/n...rinted-thyroid/

 

The father of this technology actually did create a rabbit penis or 2: https://www.theguard...atala-interview

 

The rabbits went on to procreate!

 

A few other questions:

1. How long are the telomeres in these tissues?
2. Will it thus directly extend life?

There's a revolution, but when?  Anyone care to guess? 

Edited by Logjam, 04 July 2016 - 11:12 PM.

[Decimus]

A good question. Remember that back in the early 2000's gene therapy was thought to be headed nowhere and advanced stem cell therapies (creating whole organs, repairing existing organs) was considered to be right around the corner. Fifteen years or so later, the opposite has proven to be true. So, you can never be certain which direction the winds of technology will push their hardest.

I read an interview with Anthony Atala about six months ago where he stated that he wasn't sure if we would ever have whole organs made from scratch. Sobering statement from someone at the vanguard. I would say, best case scenario, we are twenty years out from making a complex organ, like a heart. I am basing this on several research articles I have read, including the link below, which to me seems somewhat realistic. If I were betting, I would say thirty years is a realistic estimate for when a heart will be created entirely from scratch.

https://www.fightagi...ering-industry/

[Logjam]

On the other hand, Atala has grown (OK, imperfect) human penises and working rabbit penises.  

 

My question would be when will we see things like skin and bone.  They're not as complicated.  I think it could be close, but curious what others think.

[corb]

Printing organs and generally anything to do with stem cells as far as actual differentiation and integration into a tissue is concerned hasn't progressed as fast as was expected because scientists in the early 2000s understated the complexity of the extracellular environment. As a result the culturing and the usage of stem cells has been a constant string of failures.

They're finally making some progress, they engineer supporting structures which mimic the extracellular matrix keeping the stem cells active and well nutriated now. They're far from having the perfect material for the job though.

 

So in short they're held back because they don't have a proper medium to keep the cells in, not so much by the cells or the printers themselves.

They'll figure it out eventually, but I doubt it's going to be in the next 5 to 10 years. It will happen soon enough though it's a very straightforward engineering problem.

[gamesguru]

How does the body take care of the extracellular organization, in the early stages of development?

[corb]

How does the body take care of the extracellular organization, in the early stages of development?

 

 

 

It is clear that the ECM impacts a number of cellular functions that are critical for normal development and morphogenesis. Advances in the cell biology of ECM and ECM receptors have provided new and important ways of thinking about the roles of matrix in development beyond simple adhesion and space filling properties. Cell signaling through ECM can impact cell fate decisions, cell proliferation and survival, and other specialized functions. An emergent area of interest and importance includes the mechanical contributions of ECM architecture to these processes. Future studies will be needed to establish how tissue generated forces are influenced by ECM and, in turn, how these forces might regulate ECM assembly and function.

http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC2854274/

[xks201]

As soon as the feds allow it or another country adopts a new industry beyond what has already taken place. They just grew a part of a human brain in a petri dish. The technology clearly is there for organ farming even if it is just pig organ farming or whatever has been primitively proven-  and the cost effectiveness of it surpasses the expectations of most as long as someone does not acquire a monopoly on it contingent upon exclusive regulatory approval from whatever agency designates itself the next gatekeeper to health.  In the near future citizens will have to stand up for their right to access such technologies in a free marketplace where the FDA or a similar organization does not get first dibs to access granting for the producers and consumers of such technologies. 

Edited by xks201, 28 August 2016 - 02:12 AM.

[corb]

As soon as the feds allow it or another country adopts a new industry beyond what has already taken place. They just grew a part of a human brain in a petri dish. The technology clearly is there for organ farming even if it is just pig organ farming or whatever has been primitively proven-  and the cost effectiveness of it surpasses the expectations of most as long as someone does not acquire a monopoly on it contingent upon exclusive regulatory approval from whatever agency designates itself the next gatekeeper to health.  In the near future citizens will have to stand up for their right to access such technologies in a free marketplace where the FDA or a similar organization does not get first dibs to access granting for the producers and consumers of such technologies. 

 

Cell cultures in a pertri dish are easy.
Organs require 3 dimensional cellular organization, vascularisation so blood can reach the inside of it and so on.

We've only managed to generate organoids so far not complete organs.

FDA and EMA can only approve things that exist. If someone could legitimately farm organs right now I'm sure the regulatory body would be very happy to let them carry on trials considering there is always an organ shortage.

[alc]

"Organovo Announces Initiation of Commercial Contracting for ExVive Human Kidney Tissue"

 

http://phx.corporate...icle&ID=2200078