Scientists from Novosibirsk are developing reactor that enables to create biological and chemical materials of new properties (including organs) under weightlessness condition; according to preliminary tests this process may be implemented in space, Vortex Technologies Center Ltd. Director Yuri Ramazanov said to RIA-Novosti. According to his words the reactor for biotechnological process under microgravity condition works on tornado principle. Stem cells or small particles are mixed up by air whirlwind inside the installation thus creating biological and other objects while zero-g conditions allow the tissues and organs to grow evenly in all directions.
“Without gravity the water turns into a ball with an air bubble inside and it cannot be mixed up. We suppose that our reactor will be able to mix the liquids up in space. The test of pilot model on the Earth demonstrated that the process may be implemented in space”, – Ramazanov stated.
He pointed out that new device to be tested in GCTC’s IL-76 flying laboratory is under construction now. If we create a new device allowing mixing the liquids up in space we will be able to create new biological objects and materials including tissues and organs and to recycle wastes onboard space stations.
“Biological and chemical processes are possible inside the reactor, and in space with its help we may get the materials impossible to get on the Earth such as tissues, polymeric materials and crystals. Or e.g. if it is hot onboard the ISS the cosmonauts use napkins to wipe away the sweat, if we recycle these napkins we may transform cellulose into polysaccharide ant then into glucose. It takes a lot of time but in reactor we may do it much quicker”, – Ramazanov said.
Accroding to him the reactor will be tested in the second half of 2013. ‘The first tests will show whether we on the right way. It won’t take much. After the plane lands we will see how the liquid mixes up. If everything is all right we will continue developing the device and look for investor. For now JSC Tatkhiminvest-Holding invested 1 million rubles (approximately 330 thousand USD).
