Rapid 3D printing method moves toward 3D-printed organs

Rapid 3D printing method moves toward 3D-printed organs

It looks like science fiction: A machine dips into a shallow vat of translucent yellow goo and pulls out what becomes a life-sized hand.

But the seven-second video, which is sped-up from 19 minutes, is real.

The hand, which would take six hours to create using conventional 3-D printing methods, demonstrates what University at Buffalo engineers say is progress toward 3-D-printed human tissue and organs—biotechnology that could eventually save countless lives lost due to the shortage of donor organs.

"The technology we've developed is 10-50 times faster than the industry standard, and it works with large sample sizes that have been very difficult to achieve previously," says the study's co-lead author Ruogang Zhao, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical engineering.

The work is described in a study published Feb. 15 in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.

It centers on a 3-D printing method called stereolithography and jelly-like materials known as hydrogels, which are used to create, among things, diapers, and scaffolds in tissue engineering.

The latter application is particularly useful in 3-D printing, and it's something the research team spent a major part of its effort optimizing to achieve its incredibly fast and accurate 3-D printing technique.

A machine dips into a shallow vat of translucent yellow goo and pulls out what becomes a life-sized hand. But the seven-second video, which is sped-up from 19 minutes, is real. Credit: University at Buffalo

"Our method allows for the rapid printing of centimeter-sized hydrogel models. It significantly reduces part deformation and cellular injuries caused by the to the environmental stresses you commonly see in conventional 3-D printing methods," says the study's other co-lead author, Chi Zhou, Ph.D., associate professor of industrial and systems engineering.

Researchers say the method is particularly suitable for printing cells with embedded blood vessel networks, a nascent technology expected to be a central part of the production of 3-D-printed and organs.

More information: Nanditha Anandakrishnan et al, Fast Stereolithography Printing of Large‐Scale Biocompatible Hydrogel Models, Advanced Healthcare Materials (2021). DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202002103

Journal information: Advanced Healthcare Materials
Citation: Rapid 3D printing method moves toward 3D-printed organs (2021, March 6) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-03-rapid-3d-method-3d-printed.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

FRESH 3-D-printing platform paves way for tissues, organs

465 shares

Feedback to editors