China’s Tianzhou-8 to experiment Shenzhen’s 3D stem cell growth in space

On November 15th, the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft launched and entered its predetermined orbit, carrying 36 spatial scientific experiment projects bound for the space station. 

A team led by Associate Professor Lei Xiaohua from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is researching human pluripotent stem cells' 3D growth and developmental potential in orbit. They are utilizing the Biotechnology Experiment Cabinet on the space station for a 12-day on-orbit cell culture.

The scientists will employ automated micro-imaging technology in orbit to capture images of the 3D growth of stem cells. These cells will undergo detailed gene expression and differentiation function analysis upon returning to Earth. Additionally, research will be conducted on the 3D-grown stem cells that were cryopreserved in orbit and on the viable cells that, after being brought back to Earth and revived, will be studied for their growth and differentiation.

The Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft has successfully completed its docking, and astronauts have successfully transferred the experimental samples to the space station. The project on the 3D growth of stem cells undertaken by Lei's team has officially commenced within the Chinese Space Station experiment cabinet. Lei expressed his expectations, saying "we look forward to uncovering more intriguing scientific phenomena in the upcoming experiments, which could reveal more about the mysteries of stem cell growth and development in the microgravity environment of space."