In this episode, 3D printing in gel demonstrates how we might one day print human organs. Welcome to your Manufacturing Minute.
Although scientists have already played around with combining tissues and electronics to 3D print an ear a couple of years ago, there’s been no clear movement toward making functional internal organs and tissues as of yet.
One of the issues with printing intricate organic structures like blood vessels and organs is that they collapse under their own weight before they solidify. Now, researchers at the University of Florida – Gainesville might have moved the dial in the right direction. They have developed a method of printing complex objects in gel that could pave the way to our 3D printed organs of tomorrow.
The gel smoothly transitions between fluid and solid states, acting as a scaffold to hold a structure in place during the printing process. While tracing out spatial paths with an injection tip, the granular gel fluidizes at the point of injection and then rapidly solidifies, trapping injected material in place.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Do you think this method will lead to artificially produced human organs? What other applications could this method be used for?
Email us or leave your comments below.
That’s all the time we have today, but tune in every weekday for your next Manufacturing Minute.
