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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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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.