{"id":9595,"date":"2024-03-10T21:03:42","date_gmt":"2024-03-10T21:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/?p=9595"},"modified":"2024-03-10T21:03:42","modified_gmt":"2024-03-10T21:03:42","slug":"printing-life-can-3d-bioprinting-organs-using-stem-cells-revolutionise-medicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/2024\/03\/10\/printing-life-can-3d-bioprinting-organs-using-stem-cells-revolutionise-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"Printing life : Can 3D-bioprinting organs using stem cells revolutionise medicine?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A 3-D printed heart composed of human tissue from Tel Aviv University.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Medical 3D-printing<\/a> using stem cells sounds like a dream but recent advances in printing technologies has paved the way for new possibilities in artificial organ printing and regenerative medicine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across the globe many individuals who need organ transplants are suffering due to the lack of available donors. The NHS states<\/a> that in the last 10 years, 1\/4 of patients waiting for a lung transplant have died. Utilising 3D-printing to make organs accessible can play a crucial role in removing the issue of waiting years for a donor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What actually are 3D-bioprinted organs?<\/h2>\n

They are functional and biologically manufactured replicas of natural body parts, made out of a bio-ink which consists of biopolymers and stem cells which is cultivated in a lab.<\/p>\n

I believe 3D printed organs hold promise in terms of transplantation, disease modelling and drug testing, but challenges arise in regards to functionality, availability and if the body will accept the manufactured organs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How does 3D-bioprinting organs work?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

In short, 3D printed organs are made from a mixture of biopolymer hydrogels and cultured stem cells forming a bio-ink. Hydrogels<\/a> like alginate<\/a> or gelatin<\/a>, are used as ‘scaffolds’ in the printing process of the organ. The process sounds simple but researchers must take into account factors like cell\/ tissue type and the bio-ink needed for the specific organ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mark Skylar-Scott, an assistant professor at the Stanford University department of bioengineering <\/a>stated the bio-ink is loaded into “syringes and is squeezed out of the nozzle like icing on a cake”. This process is repeated with different cell types, and once complete is provided with oxygen and nutrients. Over time developing to perform its intended function.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Skylar-Scott’s team developed a method to speed up the printing process, it involves printing in clusters called organoids which he describes as a “human stem cell mayonnaise” which is then printed. The video below describes the process in full :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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