Source – ultraculture.org, by
– Recent advances in 3D printing continue to demonstrate the great medical benefit that the technology promises
The huge potential of 3D printing to revolutionize medicine continues to reveal itself, as two exciting new research projects show.
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Surgery and the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Sciences joined forces with leading 3D bioprinting company Organova to develop 3D printed tissues for transplant research. Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Wollongong and ARC Centre for Excellence for Electromaterials Sceince (ACES) at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia have teamed up to utilize 3D bioprinting to study the human brain, with the hope of curing brain disorders such as epilepsy and schizophrenia, as well as repairing head injuries.
The number of donors for vital tissue and organ transplants continues to decrease worldwide, and yet the demand for transplants increases. 3D bioprinting, also known as tissue engineering, offers a solution to the longstanding and growing issue of the lack of donors needed for transplants. It could also shorten the amount of time that patients have to wait for organ and tissue transplants.
“This field may provide a unique and new opportunity where we can print 3D organs that can supplement or replace the shortage of organs out there worldwide,” said Dr. John Geibel, vice chair and director of surgical research at Yale School of Medicine.
Neuroscience could potentially see big breakthroughs thanks to 3D printing as well. A brain disorder such as schizophrenia remains difficult to understand and treat due to its inability to be studied through animal research, as the condition is unique to humans. But that might change thanks to the research being undertaken by ACES in Melbourne, Australia. 3D printing potentially lead to cures for a host of other neurological conditions, such as epilepsy, and also aid doctors in treating sever brain injuries. It could also provide transferable tissue that could be implanted into a human brain.
“We are at a very exciting time in stem cell and regenerative medicine research and technology development,” said ACES stem cell expert Associate Professor Jeremy Crook.
“With the opportunity and realisation that natural and synthetic biomaterials can be used to support and control cell and tissue engineering, I believe we can better model healthy and disease biology for understanding disease processes, drug development, and tissue replacement therapy.”
While 3D bioprinting has not yet been demonstrated on a real and measurable scale, the field is rapidly advancing. In a very short period of time we might see organ “assist” programs in which a bioprinted organ could temporarily replace a failing organ while the patient waits for a full transplant. Eventually, tissue constructs might even be used to restore tissues or organs damaged by injury, disease or even normal aging.
“We are at a very exciting time in stem cell and regenerative medicine research and technology development,” Crook said.
http://ultraculture.org/blog/2014/12/11/3d-printing-organs-brain-tissue-revolutionize-medicine/
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