Crafting a new narrative on the convergence of engineered materials and machines fueled by living biological cells to confront technological challenges in the realms of medicine, agriculture, and global security is a compelling endeavor. In the same vein as the intricate interplay between the skeletal muscle powering a biological machine and the engine propelling a car forward, the notion arises that if a biological entity can be constructed from the ground up using organic materials, the potential exists for other machines to follow suit. This forms the foundational concept of biofabrication – the art of constructing with living cells, akin to the conventional approach of crafting with synthetic materials. Within the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, Ritu Raman delivers an accessible initiation into the world of biofabrication, contending that it holds the key to addressing some of humanity's most pressing technological hurdles.
Setting the
stage by elucidating the historical backdrop necessary for comprehending the
emergence and evolution of biofabrication, coupled with an
exploration of the fundamental technology underpinning the construction with
biology, Raman embarks on a comprehensive exploration of four biofabrication
applications poised to impact our daily lives. These applications include
tissue engineering, organs-on-a-chip, lab-grown meat and leather, and biohybrid
machines. For instance, the utilization of organs-on-a-chip, comprising
miniature model tissues, presents the prospect of revolutionizing the testing
of new medicines and therapies. Simultaneously, lab-grown meat emerges as a
potential solution to mitigate the environmental repercussions associated with
traditional animal farming practices.
Highlighting
the distinctive capabilities of biological materials, which synthetic
counterparts lack, Raman underscores their dynamic adaptability to changing
environments. This adaptiveness is a key feature that can be harnessed for
diverse applications in the field of biofabrication. By delving into the
principles that govern biofabrication, Raman encourages readers to recognize
and appreciate the inherent beauty, adaptability, and resilience embedded in
the biological machinery propelling both our bodies and the world around us.
The exploration of biofabrication becomes not only a technological discourse
but a celebration of the intricate dance between living cells and engineered
constructs, offering a unique perspective on the potential transformation of
our technological landscape.
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