The University of Oxford has engineered new high-value synthetic tissues, controllable with an external stimulus. ‘Bottom-up’ approaches in synthetic biology have been used to construct synthetic cells from simple biological components. By using a droplet-based 3D printer synthetic tissues are created, comprising hundreds of communicating synthetic cells, which can perform sophisticated functions such as protein synthesis. In addition, it has shown that 3D-printed synthetic tissues can be controlled externally by light and demonstrate electrical communication, similar to neuronal transmission. Printed synthetic tissues might be used in medicine and could even interface directly with living tissues.
University of Oxford is an IChemE Global Awards finalist for the Biotechnology Award.
“We are delighted that our project has been chosen as a finalist for the IChemE Global Biotechnology Award. These synthetic tissues, namely materials analogous to biological tissues, can be remotely activated by light and demonstrate rapid electrical signalling through defined pathways, precisely the role of neurons. Our goal is to use these completely new and high value 3D-printed materials in medicinal applications, including drug delivery and tissue replacement.”
- Michael Booth, Junior Research Fellow, University of Oxford
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