Cutting-edge 3D Bioprinting Technology Transforms Healthcare in Needed Organ Transplant Replacement
- Matthew Zaino
- Oct 1, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 11, 2023
By Matt Z
10/1/2023
This is Part 1 of a 3-part Series
In a groundbreaking leap for modern medicine, 3D printing has evolved beyond consumer gadgets and industrial prototypes to revolutionize healthcare. Bioprinting, the process of creating living organs and tissues, is ushering in a new era of personalized medicine, offering hope for countless patients needing organ transplants and tissue replacement.
Keywords: 3D Printing, HealthCare, Bioprinting, Transplants, Tissue Replacement, Bioink, and Atala.
Photo Credit: Drew Hendricks from Harvard Business Review
To initiate the bioprinting process of an organ, physicians generally start by utilizing the patient's cells and acquiring a tiny tissue sample through either a needle biopsy of the organ or a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is "smaller than half the size of a postage stamp," as described by Atala. Subsequently, this minuscule tissue sample separates and cultivates cells outside the body in preparation for printing.
This cultivation occurs within a sterile incubator or bioreactor, a sealed stainless steel container designed to provide the cells with essential nutrients, referred to as "media." That acts like the human body without the actual human body needed. A process called in vitro. Lewis noted that these cells require regular feeding every 24 hours due to their metabolic requirements. Moreover, each cell type necessitates a specific kind of media. According to Atala, the incubator or bioreactor functions as a device akin to an oven, emulating the internal temperature and oxygen levels found within the human body.
The next step involves blending the cells with a substance called "glue" by Atala, known as bioink. According to Lewis, this bioink is a printable concoction consisting of living cells, water-rich hydrogels, and the necessary media and growth factors for sustaining cell growth and differentiation. The hydrogels imitate the extracellular matrix found in the human body, encompassing substances like proteins, collagen, and hyaluronic acid.
The non-cellular portion of this adhesive, or bioink, can be synthetically created in a laboratory setting and is engineered to possess properties akin to the tissue it is intended to replace, as stated by Atala.
The biomaterials used in this process must typically meet specific criteria, such as being nontoxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible, to prevent an adverse immune response, as emphasized by Lewis. Collagen and gelatin are two of the most commonly employed biomaterials for bioprinting tissues or organs.
The key to achieving personalized tissues and organs lies in the bioprinting process. Doctors load the bioink into a printing chamber, adjusting the composition based on the specific cell types they intend to print. They utilize a printhead and nozzle to extrude this bioink. Here, the living cells are layered on top of one another, attaching themselves, each contributing to the creation of the final product.
This level of precision is made possible by incorporating patient imaging data obtained from X-rays or scans. As a color printer relies on a digital image to produce a desired hue, bioprinters utilize the patient's medical data to craft tissues with custom properties so that they may be able to enhance any other implications present with the patient while also solving the overall issue.
The duration of the bioprinting process can vary significantly, contingent upon factors such as the complexity of the organ or tissue being printed, the resolution required, and the number of printheads in operation. Nevertheless, this typically takes several hours to complete. According to Atala, the entire process spans approximately four to six weeks, from the initial biopsy to the implantation of the newly created organ or tissue. This is an excellent improvement from spending countless months trying to find a donor meeting all the requirements for a procedure that may not go as planned.
Its ability to produce personalized tissues and organs holds immense promise for patients worldwide and signifies a monumental advancement in healthcare. As this technology continues to develop, it may not be long before bioprinting becomes a standard practice in medical facilities across the globe, offering renewed hope for those in need of life-altering transplants and treatments.
Do You Believe Bioprinting is the Future of Medicine?
YES, I believe in the Potential it has.
No, I still feel skeptical about its implications.
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