Bioprinting 3D Organs

3D printing has existed for over 40 years! Still, we continue to use traditional 3D printing for a variety of practical applications today. For instance, 3D printing is frequently used to create low cost manufacturing prototypes and help students explore engineering principles in school. In fact, 3D printing is even used to create custom jewelry and artwork.

But wait — there’s more! The more modern field of “bioprinting” takes 3D printing to the next level. Rather than using plastics or metal to create a print, bioprinting uses natural materials. In terms of practical applications, medical researchers hope that the bioprinting will help produce living tissue and organs that can be transplanted into patients and help develop more accurate, personalized treatments.

However, bioprinting is not as straightforward as 3D printing. The cellular complexity in a living organism makes it difficult to use the same methods that traditional printing employs. When using inorganic materials, such as plastics or metals, a 3D printer will print out the object one layer at a time. With bioprinting, this methodology is not as effective, especially when creating larger, adult-sized tissues and organs. The biomaterials , sometimes called bioinks, that are used in bioprinting are soft, liquid substances which make them more susceptible to distortion.