Treating medical emergencies in space is challenging, as immediate care is limited and returning to Earth is both costly and time-consuming. To address these constraints, a research team led by Professor Park Chan-heum from Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital has developed BioCabinet, a space biology research payload designed to produce living tissue in orbit and evaluate disease responses under microgravity conditions.
Professor Park Chan-heum said, “Space development does not generate revenue right away, but it is a ‘field that lives on dreams’ that produces technologies with massive ripple effects in the future, like CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and the internet. Continuous national investment is needed, and with this study as a starting point, we will open a new chapter in Korea’s space biomedical engineering field.”
BioCabinet Design and Functionality
BioCabinet weighs 55 kg and measures 790×590×249 mm. It is equipped with a 3D bioprinter and a stem cell differentiation incubator, designed to autonomously produce an artificial human heart in space. The mission is planned to last 60 days, with the possibility of extending up to a year depending on cell development and research goals.
Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital team with the BioCabinet. Photo courtesy of Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital
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The payload is composed of two specialized bio modules. The first module uses induced cardiomyocyte stem cells to 3D print cardiac tissue while monitoring the cells as they spontaneously contract and beat. These stem cells are derived by reprogramming a person’s somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells, which then develop into heart cells and tissue that closely replicate natural heart function. This capability allows the creation of artificial cardiac structures with potential applications in human therapy.
The second module utilizes tonsil-derived stem cells, a tissue source abundant in the human body, notable for its strong immune properties and high viability. These cells can differentiate into multiple types, including vascular cells. Successfully achieving stable vascular differentiation in space could enable new treatments for vascular diseases both in orbit and on Earth, expanding the possibilities for biomedical applications in extreme environments.
Expanding the Frontier of Bioprinting in Space
Manufacturing on Demand
Beyond Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital’s research, other teams are also advancing the frontiers of space-based biomanufacturing.
Researchers at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. (ETH Zurich) have successfully 3D printed human muscle tissue in microgravity during parabolic flight experiments, marking a milestone in space-based biofabrication. The study aims to enhance disease modeling and drug development by recreating human tissues under gravity-free conditions that more accurately reflect the body’s natural architecture.
The research team led by Parth Chansoria used parabolic flights to simulate the microgravity of space. Image via ETH Zurich.
Earlier this year, scientists from the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) sent 3D printed liver tissue to the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on August 24, 2025. Sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory, the mission investigates how microgravity influences the growth, stability, and function of bioprinted organ constructs—insights that could accelerate progress in regenerative medicine on Earth.
The project builds on WFIRM’s achievement in NASA’s Vascular Tissue Challenge, where the team’s 3D printed, vascularized tissues functioned for up to 30 days in laboratory settings. Led by Professor James Yoo, the researchers aim to better understand how zero gravity affects cell behavior to develop more durable artificial organs for both research and clinical use.
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Author: Paloma Duran
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