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Background: <p>It is well recognized that interesting biological phenomena occur in various organisms in microgravity. However, real microgravity research is limited by cost and accessibility. Furthermore, current ground-based microgravity simulators often cause shear stress and vibration, which restrict the accurate reproduction of a real microgravity environment. This study aimed to develop a simple, low-cost, and reproducible simulated microgravity system based on neutral buoyancy to reproduce an environment similar to that of real space.</p> Methods: <p>A neutral buoyancy medium (NBM) was created by adjusting the density of conventional cell culture medium through mixing with density gradient medium (Ficoll-Paque™, Percoll™, and Optiprep™). The buoyancy stability of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (<i>h</i>BMSC) spheroids was examined experimentally and by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The effects of neutral buoyancy-based simulated microgravity (3D-sim-μg) on <i>h</i>BMSC stemness and trilineage differentiation (osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic) were compared with normal gravity.</p> Results: <p>Optiprep-based NBM (Optiprep™/cell culture medium, 20/80 v/v) maintained a stable suspension of <i>h</i>BMSC spheroids for 14&#xa0;days. CFD analysis confirmed near-zero static pressure under neutral buoyancy, reproducing a microgravity-like environment. <i>h</i>BMSC spheroids in 3D-sim-μg showed enhanced expression of pluripotency markers and suppressed osteogenic differentiation, with increased adipogenic and chondrogenic expression compared to normal gravity.</p> Conclusion: <p>The neutral buoyancy-based system effectively simulates key microgravity-associated cellular behaviors, including maintenance of stemness and lineage-specific differentiation. This approach provides a simple and accessible platform for various microgravity research endeavors.</p>

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Neutral Buoyancy as a Simple Approach to Simulated Microgravity

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月13日

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  • Ho Yong Kim,
  • Sungwook Kang,
  • Se Heang Oh

摘要

Background:

It is well recognized that interesting biological phenomena occur in various organisms in microgravity. However, real microgravity research is limited by cost and accessibility. Furthermore, current ground-based microgravity simulators often cause shear stress and vibration, which restrict the accurate reproduction of a real microgravity environment. This study aimed to develop a simple, low-cost, and reproducible simulated microgravity system based on neutral buoyancy to reproduce an environment similar to that of real space.

Methods:

A neutral buoyancy medium (NBM) was created by adjusting the density of conventional cell culture medium through mixing with density gradient medium (Ficoll-Paque™, Percoll™, and Optiprep™). The buoyancy stability of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hBMSC) spheroids was examined experimentally and by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The effects of neutral buoyancy-based simulated microgravity (3D-sim-μg) on hBMSC stemness and trilineage differentiation (osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic) were compared with normal gravity.

Results:

Optiprep-based NBM (Optiprep™/cell culture medium, 20/80 v/v) maintained a stable suspension of hBMSC spheroids for 14 days. CFD analysis confirmed near-zero static pressure under neutral buoyancy, reproducing a microgravity-like environment. hBMSC spheroids in 3D-sim-μg showed enhanced expression of pluripotency markers and suppressed osteogenic differentiation, with increased adipogenic and chondrogenic expression compared to normal gravity.

Conclusion:

The neutral buoyancy-based system effectively simulates key microgravity-associated cellular behaviors, including maintenance of stemness and lineage-specific differentiation. This approach provides a simple and accessible platform for various microgravity research endeavors.