"The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever." 

                                                                                                                                 - Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

 The art of regenerative medicine involves a mosaic of areas of study, not limited to physiology, engineering and medicine. A major component of regenerative medicine is tissue engineering, a field tasked with restoring the function of impaired organs by constructing suitable replacements. This science however remains confined by the limitations of our planet due to its physical environment, genetic instability and poor processing of stem cells to name a few. These in turn necessitates putting up a scaffold to provide support and a template for tissue synthesis, its usage vital with respect to drug delivery and genes into the. Having specific complex physical and biological functions, they interact with surrounding tissue post implantation, but come with its set of barriers.

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 Few of the difficulties are overcome in the presence of microgravity, since formation of 3D structures by the cells occurs in a more complex manner, simulating conditions of the human body in a more effective way. This allows for the fabrication of larger more intricate tissue, without the hassle of having a fully functional scaffold, an asset granted by the absence of gravity acting on it. The well-known negative impacts of space on the human body, with respect to rapid aging, is in turn used to our advantage, by crafting accelerated disease models. Additionally, the unique environment of the International Space Station, allows for the accelerated functioning of tissue chips; devices which are engineered for growth of human cells on an artificial scaffold. Synthesis of tissue vis a vis stem cell research is yet another aspect improved, development of pluripotent cells occurs with higher precision, paving the path for continuing research at a higher level, quite literally.

Scope and relevance in current time

The Chang Laboratory is pioneering research on the self-assembly of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in a microgravity environment. These iPSCs, derived from reprogrammed adult cells, possess the capacity to differentiate into various cell types. The lab's goal is to engineer liver tissues in microgravity that closely mimic the structure and function of native liver tissue.

Unlike conventional tissue engineering techniques that rely on external scaffolds or culture plates, microgravity enables cells to spontaneously organize and form three-dimensional structures. This innovative approach is facilitated by a custom-designed bioreactor, the "Tissue Orb." This bioreactor simulates the in vivo microenvironment by incorporating an artificial blood vessel network and automated media exchange, thereby promoting natural tissue development. Additionally, the team is actively investigating advanced cryopreservation methods to ensure the safe transportation of engineered tissues from space to Earth. A promising technique, isochoric supercooling, is being explored to potentially extend the shelf life of these tissues and potentially be applied to whole organs. Both areas are of immense importance and lay the foundations for future development.