Algae-embedded hydrogel breathes new life into engineered tissue

Written by Harriet Wall

Researchers at Harvard Medical School (MA, USA) have developed an algae-based biomaterial that can provide a sustainable source of oxygen for the growth and function of human cells in engineered tissue. Their novel 3D bioprinting approach may provide a new avenue of therapy in regenerative medicine. The study was recently published in the journal Matter. When an organ is damaged, 3D bioprinting techniques can be used to form tissue scaffolds that promote the growth of an artificial organ. This typically involves depositing a hydrogel containing living cells, biomaterials and growth supplements onto a surface, which then induce the growth of...

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