New Atlas

Science Audio available

Scientists 3D-print biological tissue without using scaffolds

Ben Coxworth June 17, 2019

Although it may be hard to believe that there is already an "established" method of doing something such as 3D-printing biological tissue, there does indeed seem to be one. It utilizes microscale scaffolds – which a newly-developed technique does away with the need for.

The bioink is precisely deposited within the hydrogel

Biology Audio available

How food dye may have unlocked 3D printable organs for transplant

Michael Irving May 5, 2019

3D printing organs is going through some teething issues. Now researchers have found a surprisingly simple answer to the complex problem of printing detailed vascular networks, and shown it off with a dramatic model of a breathing lung that passes oxygen into surrounding blood vessels.

A new bioprinted lung model demonstrates an intricate 3D-printed vascular network

Science Audio available

Scientists create world's first patient-specific vascularized 3D-printed heart

Ben Coxworth April 15, 2019

Although pieces of heart tissue have previously been bioprinted, scientists have now succeeded in creating the world's first 3D-printed vascularized heart to be made from a patient's own biological materials. It's an accomplishment that could pave the way for custom-made replacement organs.

The bioprinted mini human heart in its supporting medium, which can later be removed

Science Audio available

Cell-herding ultrasound developed for better bioprinting

Ben Coxworth April 11, 2019

We've been hearing a lot lately about how living cells can be combined with polymer gels, the mix then being 3D-printed to create biological tissue for use in transplants or experimentation. Such material could soon be getting even more like the real thing, thanks to new ultrasound tech.

A human meniscus created via ultrasound-assisted biofabrication

Medical Audio available

3D bioprinter patches up wounds using a patient's own skin cells

Michael Irving February 28, 2019

To help patch up large wounds that might normally require a skin graft, researchers at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) have developed a new bioprinter that can print dual layers of a patient’s own skin directly into a wound.

A close up view of the skin bioprinter nozzle developed by researchers at Wake Forest Institute ...

3D Printing

New tech allows much faster 3D-printing of human tissue with capillaries

David Szondy June 24, 2018

Prellis Biologics has brought the science fiction dream of printing human organs for transplant a step forward by developing a fast, high-resolution 3D printing technique that can produce living tissue that includes viable blood-carrying capillaries.

Medical

For the first time, scientists 3D-print human corneas

Ben Coxworth May 30, 2018

There's a limited supply of donor human corneas, meaning that not everyone who needs an eyesight-saving transplant can get one. As a result, biosynthetic corneas have recently been developed. These could become quicker and easier to produce, as scientists have successfully 3D-printed the things.

Co-author Dr. Steve Swioklo (left) and Prof. Che Connon, with a 3D-printed cornea

3D Printing

Breakthrough 3D bio-printer puts artificial tissue on the table

David Szondy May 22, 2018

In a move that could one day lead to artificial transplant organs, a UCLA team has developed a new technique for printing complex bio-tissues using multiple materials. Using a specially modified 3D printer, it promises to one day create complex therapeutic biomaterials on demand.

The 3D bioprinter has two key components: a custom-built microfluidic chip (pictured) and a digital micromirror

Medical

Heart-healing patch has got the beat

Ben Coxworth April 17, 2017

One of the many problems with heart attacks is that when the heart heals afterwards, it grows non-beating scar tissue over the part of the heart that was damaged. There may be hope, however, as scientists have created a new patch that allows the heart to heal more completely.

Medical

Bioprinting shows us some more skin

Ben Coxworth January 23, 2017

If a new bioprinter lives up to the hype, skin grafts taken from a person's own body may become a thing of the past. The machine is reportedly capable of 3D-printing sheets of functional human skin for use in research … or for transplants.

The skin-making bioprinter, with the bio-inks at left at the print bed at right