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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 17th February 2016
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Scientists print living tissue structures
3D printed ear
Completed ear structure printed with the Integrated Tissue-Organ Printing system.

Technology could be used to replace ears, bone and muscle 

Living tissue structures can be printed to replace injured or diseased tissue in humans, research by the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre has found.

Using a custom-designed 3D printer, the scientists produced ear, bone and muscle structures. When implanted in animals, the structures grew into functional tissue and developed a system of blood vessels.

The study, published in Nature Biotechnology, suggests that the structures have the right size, strength and function for use in humans.

“This novel tissue and organ printer is an important advance in our quest to make replacement tissue for patients,” said Anthony Atala, M.D., director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) and senior author on the study.

“It can fabricate stable, human-scale tissue of any shape. With further development, this technology could potentially be used to print living tissue and organ structures for surgical implantation.”

The team developed the Integrated Tissue and Organ Printing System (ITOP) over 10 years. It deposits both bio-degradable, plastic-like materials to form the tissue “shape” and water-based gels that contain the cells. A strong, temporary outer structure is then formed on the outside.

To keep the cells alive, the scientists optimised the water-based “ink” that holds the cells so that it promoted cell health and growth. They also printed a lattice of micro-channels throughout the structures. These allow nutrients and oxygen from the body to diffuse into the structures and keep them live while they develop a system of blood vessels.

The scientists say that the ITOP system can also use data from CT and MRI scans to “tailor-make” tissue for patients. For a patient missing an ear, for example, the system could print a matching structure.

The team are now conducting further studies to measure longer-term outcomes.

Image (C) Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine

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RUMA CA&E extends survey deadline

News Story 1
 RUMA CA&E has extended the deadline for its online survey into vaccine availability.

Vets, SQPs, retailers and wholesalers will now have until Friday, 26 September at 5pm to submit their response.

The survey aims to further understanding into the vaccine supply challenges faced by the sector. It will also consider the short and long term impacts of disruption issues.

Insights are anonymous, and will be shared with industry stakeholders and government bodies.

The survey can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
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