The approach is also considerably cheaper than any other available today

Feb 28, 2014 10:08 GMT  ·  By

Researchers with the Houston Methodist Research Institute, led by investigator Dr. Lidong Qin, announce the development of a new method for printing cell stamps. These structures are basically collections of cells arranged in different patterns, used for a wide variety of applications. 

Inkjet printing technology has been adapted to using living cells years ago, but the survival rate of individual cells in the stamp is evaluated at around 50 percent. At the same time, a single printer of this type can cost up to $10,000 (€7.300). The new approach promises much lower costs.

In their experiments, HMRI researchers were able to print individual cell stamps for around $1 (€0.7) each. On the downside, their approach is much more labor-intensive and time-consuming than the inkjet method. In all likelihood, the extended cell survivability rates will make up for these drawbacks.

The research team likens its printing method to a modern form of the ancient Chinese wood block printing technique. Experts say that cells can be printed on nearly any type of surface and in any type of 2D arrangements. Unfortunately, it is not currently possible to print 3D cell structures.

This limitation will likely be exceeded as the new technology is refined further. As it stands, early results are very encouraging, and the HMRI group plans to continue testing it as soon as possible. Details of how it works were published in the latest issue of the esteemed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

“Cell printing is used in so many different ways now – for drug development and in studies of tissue regeneration, cell function, and cell-cell communication. Such things can only be done when cells are alive and active. A survival rate of 50 to 80 percent is typical as cells exit the inkjet nozzles,” Qin says.

“By comparison, we are seeing close to 100 percent of cells in [Block-Cell-Printing] survive the printing process. We feel the current technologies are inadequate. Inkjet-based cell printing leaves many of the cells damaged or dead. We wanted to see if we could invent a tool that helps researchers obtain arrays of cells that are alive and still have full activity,” he adds.

Though still in its infancy, BloC-Printing can create high-definition 2D cellular patterns on multiple surfaces. Individual cells can be printed as close as 5 micrometers from each other. This is a significant performance, considering that the average cell is 10 to 20 micrometers across.

Qin and his group have already used the new approach to print brain cells. He says that similar networks can be used to study neuron signal transduction and axon regeneration, which could in turn prove helpful in understanding Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative illnesses.

The expert concludes by saying that BloC-Printing also has potential applications in developing more sensitive diagnostic and assessment tools against a variety of diseases, including cancer.