Pioneering the Future of Experimental Space Hardware: MiniFix - a Fully 3D-Printed and Highly Adaptable System for Biological Fixation in Space

Abstract

MiniFix, a syringe-based biological fixation system (SBBFS) is a versatile, fully 3D-printed syringe-driven, stepper motor-operated platform designed for the chemical fixation of biological samples in space-based research. Unlike conventional systems, it leverages additive manufacturing to provide modularity and customizability, enabling manipulation and a chemical fixation of biological samples under altered gravity conditions. MiniFix has performed five successful missions on the MAPHEUS sounding rocket and has demonstrated its reliability and adaptability. The integrated thermal management system uses waste heat from the stepper motors to maintain accurate sample temperature and in turn reduces power consumption and weight. MiniFix is particularly notable for its flexibility, allowing adaptation to diverse biological model systems, from simple organisms to more complex tissue cultures. Its modular design and 3D-printing process enable quick, cost-effective adjustments for different experimental setups. It was successfully printed with three different materials– PLA (Polylactic acid), PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified), and the biodegradable GreenTEC Pro. Its ability to integrate modifications such as illumination further enhances its adaptability for future space missions, for instance with photosynthetic organisms. By offering reliability, modular flexibility, and adaptation to a broad range of biological research goals, the SBBFS represents a new approach to construct flexible hardware for space and gravitational biology.