Is 3D Bioprinting the Future of Tailor-Made Medicine?

3D bioprinting is revolutionizing the medical field, offering groundbreaking solutions for everything from tissue engineering to personalized treatments. Thanks to 3D printing-like techniques, cells and biomaterials can be combined and deposited layer by layer to create biomedical parts that have the same properties as natural tissues. During this process, various bioinks can be used to create tissue-like structures, which have applications in medical and tissue engineering fields. The varied biomaterials that can be used are combined differently depending on the cells being treated and the final application.

One of the biggest endeavors of this field is to successfully bioprint a fully functional human organ. According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, around 17 people in the United States die every day waiting for an organ transplant, and the demand for transplants increases every year. 3D bioprinting could be a life-saving solution, but the science isn’t there yet. How could this technology develop? Below, we will explore recurring questions about bioprinting and different printing processes associated with the technology.

(Photo credits: FluidForm)

The Beginnings of 3D Bioprinting

3D bioprinting dates back to 1988 when Dr. Robert J. Klebe of the University of Texas presented his cytoscribing process, a method of micropositioning cells to construct two and three-dimensional synthetic fabrics using a common inkjet printer. In 2002, Professor Anthony Atala of Wake Forest University created the first organ using bioprinting: a small-scale kidney.