Scientists at the University of Washington and UW Medicine have created a tiny 3D-printed device that could change the way human tissues are modeled in the lab.
This new tool, which fits on the tip of a finger, makes it much easier for researchers to build and study complex tissue structures—like those found in the heart, lungs, skin, and muscles.
Called STOMP, short for Suspended Tissue Open Microfluidic Patterning, the device gives scientists better control over how different types of cells are placed in lab-grown tissues.
This is important for studying how diseases affect multiple tissue types, such as in neuromuscular disorders or heart conditions.
Until now, it was difficult to study different cell types together in one tissue model, because researchers couldn’t easily separate and arrange them in realistic ways.
In traditional tissue engineering, scientists place living cells in a gel between two upright posts. This setup allows the cells to behave somewhat like they do in the human body.
However, it hasn’t been good for studying complex diseases that involve more than one kind of tissue.
STOMP solves this problem by using a special design that acts like a patterning guide, allowing scientists to “space out” different types of cells precisely—much like evenly spreading fruit in Jell-O.
The team tested STOMP by creating two experimental models. In one, they recreated both healthy and diseased heart tissues to compare how they contract.
In another, they built a model of the ligament that connects a tooth to the bone in the jaw. The device made it possible to form multiple distinct tissue regions within a single gel, something that’s very hard to do with older tools.
One clever feature of STOMP is how it uses capillary action—similar to how water travels up a straw—to move the cell-containing gel into place.
The gel, which contains both living and artificial materials, is pipetted into a frame. Once set, scientists can remove some of the structure without damaging the tissue.
The device was designed by an interdisciplinary team, including chemistry and engineering experts, as well as dental and biomedical researchers.
Dr. Ashleigh Theberge, one of the lead scientists, said the project was a true team effort and hopes other labs will find creative ways to use STOMP in their own research.
With this new technology, scientists now have a simple yet powerful way to study how cells interact and respond to disease. It could speed up the development of new therapies and improve our understanding of how tissues work together in the human body.
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