FIU grows bones in the lab thanks to 3D printed bioreactor

According to Florida International University (FIU), Anamika Prasad, a biomedical engineer at Florida International University (FIU), along with her team of students, has developed an innovative 3D printable device known as a bioreactor. This innovation is poised to transform bone and cartilage research.

The bioreactor, a sophisticated device that allows cells to perform their bone-building tasks outside the human body, has been a focal point of refinement for Prasad and his team. In particular, master’s student Paula Gustin played a crucial role in the latest advances. The device now has cylinder-shaped voids that reproduce the unique environment required for bone tissue growth, thus supporting the long-term survival of the samples. Remarkably, recently published research indicates that samples can survive in this bioreactor for up to 28 days.

This extended survival is a game-changer for scientists—allowing the study of cellular changes over long periods of time, which is essential for discovering new drugs and therapeutic treatments. Additionally, this device holds significant potential for advancing bone engineering research—including the reconstruction of large bone segments lost to cancer, infection, or injury, as well as cartilage research and the cultivation of new cartilage tissue.

Prasad’s vision for this bioreactor expands beyond its current capabilities. She plans to incorporate the device into other research projects, including a collaborative 3D bone reconstruction initiative with Dr. Juan Prettel, chief of musculoskeletal oncology surgery at Baptist Health. This project, supported by the Casey DeSantis Florida Cancer Innovation Fund through the Florida Department of Health, aims to design custom 3D implants for children suffering from osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

This innovative bioreactor developed at FIU not only exemplifies the cutting-edge work being done in biomedical engineering, but also highlights the potential for significant advances in medical treatments and patient care.