paper which is cell-friendly. Afterwards, it prints out the living cell clusters onto the paper. After the clusters are placed close to one another, the cells naturally self-organize and morph into more complex tissue structures. The whole process is then repeated to add multiple layers with each layer separated by a thin piece of bio-paper. Eventually, the bio-paper dissolves and all of the layers become one.To get a further understanding of the methodology, it is important to understand the current challenges that go along with 'printing' artificial organs to be used in human bodies.As of now, scientists are only able to produce a maximum of about 2 inches of thickness. "When you print something very thick, the cells on the inside will die -- there's no nutrients getting in there -- so we need to print channels there and hope that they become blood vessels", explains Thomas Boland, an associate professor at Clemson University.
Morgan G on 04 Mar 14"3D Printing Aims to Deliver Organs on Demand" 3D Organ Printing
Dru F on 04 Mar 14Ears, bones and other body parts have been spit out of 3D printers in the lab. Here's a look at what organs can be created with 3D printing and are ready for prime time.
Emma Aanestad on 05 Mar 14"Such a futuristic dream remains far from reality, but university labs and private companies have already taken the first careful steps by using 3D-printing technology to build tiny chunks of organs." This website provides information on how far we currently are in the process of construction new organs from 3D printers. It talks about what bodily materials have already been made by the printers and how they were made. For example the pieces of skin that have already been successfully used on patients. Then it tells you about who came up with this discovery and when. We can use this source as a reference on how far we have come with 3D printing. It is reliable because it is on an official science website and all of the information is cited throughout the article.
