Unfortunately, research on the female body, particularly concerning health, remains largely neglected. Researchers at ETH Zurich now want to change this with their groundbreaking study of breast milk cells. Specifically, how breast milk is produced within the body has not yet been sufficiently investigated scientifically. The team led by Marcy Zenobi-Wong hopes that the project will yield valuable insights into female biology. It is intriguing to see the production of breast milk tissue, which the researchers created using 3D printing technologies.
Breast milk is specifically tailored to the nutritional needs of infants. However, how these customized needs are met and how milk is produced in the first place remains understudied. This is a mystery that Zenobi-Wong’s team is attempting to solve. They first began to isolate cells from human breast milk, known as lactocytes, which are responsible for milk production in breast tissue. The team placed these in artificial miniature milk ducts. The material used for this is derived from bovine udder tissue and contains similar components to human breast tissue.
Many mothers have problems breastfeeding, yet the issue has not received much scientific attention to date (Image: Blick)
3D Printing Enables the Production of Special Tissue Structures
The team used the cells from the bovine tissue to construct a liquid biomaterial. In a process similar to stereolithography, the material was selectively cured by a laser. In just a few minutes, artificial milk ducts or alveoli were created. The ducts were then enriched with extracted cells from human breast tissue, which were stored inside the ducts.
After these tests, the cell tissue successfully produced chemical components that are typically only found in milk, such as beta-casein and milk fat globules. Despite having the right building blocks, however, the cells cannot produce artificial milk yet. Instead, the project represents a first step toward understanding human milk production. Amelia Hasenauer, a PhD student on the team, commented on the progress of the project, “Our cell culture model is primarily intended to contribute to a better understanding of the milk production process. I know many women who have problems with breastfeeding. Our model could one day help to find answers.”
The schematic of a milk duct (left) and the team’s 3D-printed model (right) (Image: ETH Zurich)
Putting Women’s Health in the Spotlight
The project could find other applications in drug trials and breast cancer research. Since the tests are conducted exclusively on cell tissue and do not require animal testing, the method is already proving very popular within research circles. “The next step is to increase the throughput of milk collection, which is possible with 3D printing,” said Zenobi-Wong.
The project highlights the immense gaps in research related to the female body. For example, aside from the issues discussed here, nearly 1 in 10 women are affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is a widespread disease that triggers hormonal imbalances, and specific treatment methods have not yet been studied. Zenobi-Wong and her team want to address this and hope that the project will lead to more opportunities in research related to women’s health. “There are so many unanswered questions, from endometriosis to mastitis to fertility issues,” says Zenobi-Wong. “All of this deserves more scientific attention.” More information on their research can be found HERE.
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*Photo Credits: ETH Zurich