Functional 3D Bioprinted Vascularized Tissue to Study Microgravity Effects on Vascular Dysfunction

Adaptation to microgravity causes alterations in the circulatory and cardiovascular systems, such as reduced heart size and vascular problems. Microgravity-induced adaptive alterations in vascular structure and function contribute to vascular dysfunction, the main component responsible for cardiovascular problems. Recent studies have demonstrated that microgravity such as increased vasoconstriction and impaired vasodilation, which are vital to keep vascular functionality and homeostasis. The objective of this research is to develop 3D bioprinted vascularized tissue representing a cardiovascular physiologically relevant model to study the impact of microgravity that causes an alteration in gene expression and proteins linked to oxidative stress.

Stress Induced Cellular Senescence as Cause of Accelerated Cerebrovascular Aging (NSF Funded)

Decades of preparations for long-term space expeditions lead to speculations regarding the potential relationship between exposure to space radiation and loss of physiological homeostasis leading to accelerated aging. New information about the effects of space radiation on the increase of cellular senescence and the impact of these cells on the human body raises some real concerns about the feasibility of prolonged space missions. The project focuses on the development of a bioprinted 3D tissue model for the cerebrovascular system to study biomarkers and the mechanisms by which radiation induces cellular senescence and again during exposure to various stressors.

Studying the Effects of Ionizing Radiation Exposure on Cardiovascular System using Functional 3D Bioprinted Vascularized Cardiac Tissue (Florida Space Grant Consortium Funded)

The objective of this proposal is to investigate how different cellular functions are affected by exposure to space radiation environment by using 3D bioprinted vascularized cardiac tissue constructs. The cardiovascular and inflammatory responses to organ systems are of concern for potential adverse effects due to space radiation exposure. The central experimental model of this research is to evaluate the effects of ionizing radiation on cardiovascular tissues using 3D bioprinted vascularized cardiac co-culture tissue model comprised of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts, and senescent cells along with the iPSC derived vascular endothelial cells lining the inner walls of the perfusion channels.