By introducing ‘pillars’ of a polymer next to a growing micro-lung, the cells can be encouraged to branch. Photo: Zayed Centre for Research
By introducing ‘pillars’ of a polymer next to a growing micro-lung, the cells can be encouraged to branch. Photo: Zayed Centre for Research
By introducing ‘pillars’ of a polymer next to a growing micro-lung, the cells can be encouraged to branch. Photo: Zayed Centre for Research
By introducing ‘pillars’ of a polymer next to a growing micro-lung, the cells can be encouraged to branch. Photo: Zayed Centre for Research

Zayed Centre makes breakthrough in using 3D printing for human organs


Marwa Hassan
  • English
  • Arabic

The creation of human organs in a laboratory could become a reality at a UAE-backed research centre in London that is adapting 3D printing to create functioning tissue.

A new technique from the Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children involves 3D bio-printing near or around microscopic organs, grown from stem cells in the lab and known as organoids.

“These 3D structures then act as barriers to guide the growth of the mini organs in specific directions or patterns”, Dr Giovanni Giobbe, the co-lead author of the research, told The National.

Using the 3D printed structures, the researchers were able to guide the growth of organoids into specific shapes that they could then visualise using a high specification microscope

The 3D printing technique can be used inside organoids to force tissue to grow into moulds. Photo: Zayed Centre for Research
The 3D printing technique can be used inside organoids to force tissue to grow into moulds. Photo: Zayed Centre for Research

“Precise control over cell development is of great importance in various fields, such as regenerative medicine, disease modelling and drug testing,” said Dr Giobbe.

“The ability to make cells into a specific shape or type allows the creation of engineered tissues and organs, providing potential solutions for organ transplantation and regenerative therapies.”

The centre, which is part of the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, aims to break new ground in understanding and treating rare childhood diseases.

It was partly born from a £60 million ($82.6 million) donation made by Sheikha Fatima, Mother of the Nation, in 2014. Honouring her husband, the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the centre's name reflects their commitment to pioneering medical care for children.

Now in its fourth year, the centre is making waves in genetic therapy and tackling health crises like Covid-19, but it is also looking to the future with 3D bio-printing.

Dr Giobbe describes the technique as “an advanced technology where scientists and researchers can create three-dimensional structures using biological materials”.

“It involves carefully depositing these materials layer by layer in a specific pattern to build complex microscopic 3D shapes,” he said.

The technique could transform the landscape of regenerative medicine by developing organoids.

The power of precision

Scientists from the Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre and the University of Padova, Italy are at the forefront of the field.

Their research, published in the Nature Communications journal, provides new insight into how 3D bio-printing can control the shape, activity and direction of tissue growth.

The study reveals the successful development of a technique to create solid structures within a pre-existing gel, controlling the growth pattern in real time.

Cells in the organoid develop in a precise, controlled manner, offering new understanding of malformations that occur in early pregnancy.

The benefits of 3D bio-printing for organ research and regenerative medicine include everything from “the creation of accurate organ models for drug testing, personalised organ replacement and regenerative therapies”, Dr Giobbe said.

The technology promises to help create more accurate models of diseases and develop biologically accurate “patches” for living organs.

This involves creating specialised tissues using living cells to repair or replace damaged organ parts, the researchers said.

Dr Giobbe said the motivation for exploring the technique was so that structures seen in the body could be replicated.

“The overall aim of our research was to develop a novel method to control and direct the growth of biological tissues to better understand the importance of geometry in organ development,” he said.

Scientists used the technique to encourage lung cells to create branches, like they do in the body. Photo: Zayed Centre for Research
Scientists used the technique to encourage lung cells to create branches, like they do in the body. Photo: Zayed Centre for Research

Zayed Centre for Research

The centre is home to cutting-edge research in organoid science in partnership with Great Ormond Street, the hospital's charity and University College London.

The team acknowledges that a number of challenges must be overcome before 3D bio-printing can be used to create fully functioning organs, such as the complexity of organs, preventing immune rejection, improving production time and scalability, ethical considerations and cost-effectiveness.

The centre has a diverse range of specialities, including cardiology, respiratory medicine, dermatology, immunology and neonatal and paediatric surgery. Organoids are an area of particular promise.

These tissues have typically grown in an uncontrolled manner, unable to mimic the complex structure of natural organs. But 3D bio-printing offers a solution to this.

The “groundbreaking technology holds the potential to revolutionise medicine,” Dr Giobbe said.

“It can be used to engineer tissues for various medical purposes, including skin grafts for burn victims, cartilage and bone replacement for orthopaedic patients, and blood vessels for cardiovascular applications.”

The UAE's vision: A global 3D printing capital

The UAE aims to be a global leader in 3D printing technology, with an emphasis on medical uses. The Dubai Health Authority aims to produce artificial limbs using 3D printing for less than Dh400 by 2025.

The value of 3D printed medical products in Dubai is projected to reach Dh1.7 billion by 2025.

IF YOU GO

The flights

FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.

The tours

English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people. 

The hotels

Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.

St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.

 

Key facilities
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog

Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents

Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University

As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families

Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too

In 2018, the ICRC received 27,756 trace requests in the Middle East alone. The global total was 45,507.

 

There are 139,018 global trace requests that have not been resolved yet, 55,672 of these are in the Middle East region.

 

More than 540,000 individuals approached the ICRC in the Middle East asking to be reunited with missing loved ones in 2018.

 

The total figure for the entire world was 654,000 in 2018.

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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

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Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


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Biography

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Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour

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Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems

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Why seagrass matters
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The low down on MPS

What is myofascial pain syndrome?

Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (­connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).

What are trigger points?

Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft ­tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and ­sustained posture are the main culprits in developing ­trigger points.

What is myofascial or trigger-point release?

Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle ­sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in ­connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. ­Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.

The specs
 
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Updated: August 02, 2023, 6:37 AM`