Three dimensional bioprinting is a form of additive manufacturing which uses the cells and some other bio-compatible materials as bioinks or inks to print the living structures layer by layer in order to impersonate the behaviour of the natural living systems. The bioprinted structures like organ on the chip could be used to learn the outer portion functions of the human body in three dimensions. When it comes to the geometry of this 3D bioprinted structure, it is just as that of the naturally happening biological system than the above mentioned study also in 2D (Two Dimensions). At the same time, it can be highly relevant to the different biological aspects.
How does 3D bioprinting technology work?
This 3D bioprinting technology is most probably used in the health care fields of bioengineering, tissue engineering, and also the materials science. Similarly, the same technology is also highly used for the pharmaceutical development & drug validation. In future, it is expected to be used for the various clinical settings and medical applications such as,
- 3D printed Bone grafts
- 3D printed Skin grafts
- Biomedical devices
- Implants
- Full 3D printed organs
3D bioprinting in fact begins with the model of the structure that is recreated layer by layer with the use of the bioinks either seeded with the cells once the print is complete or mixed with the living cells. These models are coming from anywhere a computer generated design (CAD) program, CT or MRI scan, or the file downloaded from the web.
Then, the three dimensional model file is fed into the slicer which is the unique type of computer program analyzing the geometry of the model, and produces the series of thin slices or layers forming the shape of the original model. Some popular model slicers are commonly used in this 3D printing.
Importance of bioprinting in healthcare:
Thousands of people around the world are on waiting list of the different organs are experiences some chronic problems due to the post transplant immunosupression long term damaging effects. The health care industry has already succeeded in bringing the highest challenges of researching this 3D bioprinting technology to human health to find the potential problems and avoid the organ transplant waiting list. When it comes to the development of the pharmaceutical industry in healthcare, this technology provides the means of testing drugs faster with the best biological relevance to the humans than the animal testing and also at the lowest prices.
In the biomedical devices filed, this three dimensional bioprinting technology has allowed the new developments such as the systems for the improved drug delivery, sugar stents to help surgeons join veins with some complications, and more. As this bioprinting technology grows, it is becoming possible to use the own cells of every patient to 3D print the bone and skin grafts, complete replacement of organs, and also the organ patches. Regenerative and personalized medicine keeps on growing in the popularity and the 3D bioprinting will provide researchers and doctors the best tools for the better improvement of the patient outcomes and target treatments.