Technology using simulated microgravity

Abstract

The human body experiences constant stimulation from Earth's gravity, and the absence of gravity leads to various impacts at the cellular and tissue levels. Simulated microgravity (s-μg) has been employed on Earth to investigate these effects, circumventing the challenges of conducting experiments in space and providing an opportunity to understand the influence of microgravity on living organisms. Research focusing on stem cells and utilizing s-μg has enhanced our understanding of how microgravity affects stem cell morphology, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Studies have used systems such as rotating wall vessels, random positioning machines, and clinostats. By uncovering the mechanisms underlying the observed changes in these studies, there is potential to identify therapeutic targets that regulate stem cell function and explore a range of applications, including stem cell-based regenerative medicine. This review will focus on the features of each device designed to simulate microgravity on Earth, as well as the stem cell experiments performed with those devices.

Keywords: Random positioning machine; Regenerative therapy; Rotating wall vessel; Simulated microgravity; Stem cells.

Fig. 1

Current applications of simulated microgravity technology. The application of stem cells in simulated microgravity conditions involves regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and disease model research. For instance, they can be used to study growth patterns, drug susceptibility, and development of novel drug compounds.