Mission Possible: Polystyrene Particles Facilitate Cellular Research In Space
NASA designed a series of experiments to find ways to optimize the on-board stationary bioreactor CBOSS (Cellular Biotechnology Operations Support System), where cells are cultivated in the near weightless (microgravity) environment of orbital space. Since uniform mixing of the components and preventing air bubble formation during mixing are both crucial to successful cell cultivation, scientists needed to establish precise mixing protocols. The dark blue color of Polysciences' Polybead polystyrene particles allowed scientists to easily visualize the fluid mixing patterns and develop a model system that would be convenient for the flight crew.
NASA selected Polysciences' Polybeads because their 10 micron size closely mimics the size and density of human lymphoid cells, which were the subject of their initial experiments. The study involved the immune response to human lymphoid cell suspensions. The Polybeads were a suitable candidate as a surrogate for the cells. When the methodology is perfected, NASA will use CBOSS to cultivate many other cell types.
Scientists have discovered that in the microgravity environment of orbital space flight, cells cultured in vitro will grow into 3-dimensional tissue assemblies. These 3D assemblies develop into tissue constructs of quality and size not possible in laboratories on Earth, offering many potential uses. They will help scientists studying various types of human diseases such as cancer, heart disease, AIDS, and diabetes. Applications for these constructs include tissue transplant, drug testing, and pathogenesis of infectious microorganisms. This new source of research tissue may also lead to advances in the production of novel therapeutic drugs.
For more than a decade, NASA's Cellular Biotechnology Program at the Johnson Space Center has been working to support research in cell biology and tissue engineering. The first experiments on cell growth in microgravity environments started with the Space Shuttle flights in the mid-1990s. Long duration cellular experiments were conducted on the Russian space station Mir from 1996 to 1998. This research continues on the International Space Station using Polysciences' Polybeads.