Gizmorama - April 3, 2017

Good Morning,

Don't you love it when science improves something you do or use? I know I do! Speaking of which... scientists have invented a wine bottle that doesn't drip. Thank you, science!

Learn about this and more interesting stories from the scientific community in today's issue.

Until Next Time,
Erin

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*-- Tests show 3D bioprinted human cartilage cells can be safely implanted --*
Scientists in Sweden successfully implanted 3D bioprinted human cartilage cells in an animal model. Researchers hope the breakthrough paves the way for the technology's use in human patients.

"This is the first time anyone has printed human-derived cartilage cells, implanted them in an animal model and induced them to grow," Paul Gatenholm, professor of biopolymer technology at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, said in a news release.

The bioink used to print the cartilage "construct," a woven, lattice-like structure, was made by infusing a nanocellulose hydrogel with human-derived cartilage cells. After it was printed, scientists implanted the construct inside mice.

Last year, the research team presented the structural integrity of their human cell-derived, 3D-printed cartilage at the 251st National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society.

During the latest tests, researchers observed cartilage growth and blood vessel formation. They also showed the addition of stem cells further aided new cartilage growth.

"What we see after 60 days is something that begins to resemble cartilage. It is white and the human cartilage cells are alive and producing what they are supposed to," said Lars Kölby, senior lecturer at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg. "We have also been able to stimulate the cartilage cells by adding stem cells, which clearly promoted further cell division."

Researchers shared their breakthrough in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

"We now have proof that the 3D printed hydrogel with cells can be implanted," Gatenholm said. "It grows in mice and, in addition, blood vessels have formed in it."

The scientists say they're still a ways from growing and implanting human organs, but they're making progress.

"This is how you have to work when it comes to this kind of pioneering activity: one small step at a time" Gatenholm said. "Our results are not a revolution -- but they are a gratifying part of an evolution!"



*-- Scientist invents wine bottle that doesn't drip --*
Anyone who has poured a glass of wine from a bottle has experienced the vexing drip that follows. The annoyance inspired biophysicist Daniel Perlman to seek out a solution.

For three years, Perlman studied how wine flows across the rim of a wine bottle opening. He found he could thwart runaway wine by carving a groove just below the bottle's lip.

Restaurant servers often wrap a napkin around the neck of the wine bottle, and there are several commercial accessories designed to prevent spillage, but Perlman wanted to change the bottle itself.

"I didn't want there to be the additional cost or inconvenience of buying an accessory," he said in a news release.

Perlman watched slow-motion videos of wine being poured to isolate the problem. He noticed the problem was most pronounced when bottles were nearly full. He also saw wine often curled across the lip and streamed down the neck of the wine bottle. Glass is hydrophilic -- it attracts water.

Perlman and engineer Greg Widberg used a diamond-studded tool to etch a small groove just below the lip of the wine bottle. The wine is unable to cross the gap and form a stream. Instead, the wine is forced to fall from the wine bottle into the glass below.

With more than 100 patents to his name, Perlman is no stranger to inventing. The Brandeis University professor is currently in talks with bottle manufactures about his innovation.

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