3D Bioprinting - Manufacturing Organs!

Although its original conception runs as far back as the late 1980s, 3D bioprinting is one of the major markers of biotechnology whose extent of capabilities remains unknown to this day.

3D bioprinters are capable of creating functioning human body parts, ranging from heart valves to cartilage, that allow living cells to multiply and serve the functions of their naturally developed counterparts.

Just as standard 3D printers construct objects layer by layer by following the schematics of a digital file, bioprinters use precise blueprints to build tissues and organs out of cells and biomaterials (materials derived from biological organisms).

Once an organ or tissue is identified, a digital blueprint is generated and fed into the printer along with the materials needed to build the structure. As the printer scans the file, it will feed out the biomaterials in layers to form a realistic composition from the patient’s own living cells (bio-ink). The biomaterials used as input for the 3D structures are solidified and molded as they are printed through a process known as additive manufacturing.

According to the US Federal Health Resources & Services Administration, nearly 106,000 Americans are on waiting lists for organ transplants, of which 17 die daily without donors. However, by implementing 3D bioprinted organs, which are made of the patient’s own cells, the need for donors is completely negated and the chances of organ rejection are incredibly slim.

Furthermore, bioprinted tissues invalidate the need for living test subjects for new drug studies. By spending the early stages of drug development by experimenting with its effects on bioprinted tissues, both academic and commercial organizations can maintain an ethical and cost-effective approach to testing.

Unfortunately, the significant complexity of 3D bioprinting confirms that it will be some time before researchers gain any traction with practical applications. However, with the recent success of bioprinted bladders and heart valves, the future is looking bright.

Although the idea originated decades ago, 3D bioprinting is a relatively new concept whose possibilities have not yet been fully explored. From drug research and transplants to gaining a more complex understanding of organs, 3D bioprinting is the way forward.

Works Cited

Barber, Carolyn. “3D-Printed Organs May Soon Be a Reality. “Looking Ahead, We’ll Not Need Donor Hearts.”” Fortune, 15 Feb. 2023, fortune.com/well/2023/02/15/3d-printed-organs-may-soon-be-a-reality/.

“Bioprinting: What It Is and How It’s Used in Medicine.” Verywell Health, www.verywellhealth.com/bioprinting-in-medicine-4691000#:~:text=Bioprinting%20on%20a%20Chip.

“Biotech Innovation: 6 Exciting Developments in the Biotech Industry.” Hult International Business School, 12 Sept. 2019, www.hult.edu/blog/biotech-innovation-6-exciting-developments/#:~:text=Biotech%20innovation%20%231%3A%20Biosensors&text=And%20one%20key%20development%20that. Accessed 23 July 2023.

Cellink. “Bioprinting Explained (Simply!).” CELLINK, 29 Mar. 2019, www.cellink.com/blog/bioprinting-explained-simply/#:~:text=Bioprinting%20is%20an%20additive%20manufacturing.

Gu, Zeming, et al. “Development of 3D Bioprinting: From Printing Methods to Biomedical Applications.” Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, vol. 15, no. 5, 17 Dec. 2019, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1818087619311869, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajps.2019.11.003.

“What Is 3D Bioprinting? How Does 3D Bioprinting Technology Work?” What Is 3D Bioprinting? | 3D Bioprinting Technology | UPM Biomedicals, www.upmbiomedicals.com/applications/for-life-science/what-is-3d-bioprinting/#:~:text=Mostly%2C%203D%20bioprinting%20can%20be. Accessed 23 July 2023.

“What Is a Biomaterial?” Plone Site, aese.psu.edu/teachag/curriculum/modules/biomaterials/what-is-a-biomaterial#:~:text=A%20material%20derived%20from%2C%20or.