In the past, the concept of printing human organs was likely regarded as a piece of science fiction, but 3D bioprinting is bringing it a bit closer to reality. By combining medicine, engineering and advanced manufacturing, organ printing is the solution to a large issue in health care: the shortage of donor organs.
What is Organ Printing?
Organ printing or 3D bioprinting is fabricating working human organs and tissues using a 3D printer. These printers also employ bio-inks (compounds composed of living cells, biomaterials and factor) to create layers that recapitulate the natural shape of human organs but not in ink.
These printed publications can be:
Simple tissues skin, cartilage or bone.
More complicated, blood-vascular tissue such as liver, kidney or even heart tissue.
Why It Matters
The demand of organ transplants is far much more than the supply. Every year thousands of individuals lose their lives as they await a donor organ which never comes. Possible solutions are proposed in Organ printing:
Reduced waiting lists: Organs could be fabricated when it was required.
Custom medicine: It might be possible to print organs using the cells of the patient, eliminating rejection.
Medical research: Tissues in print media allow doctors to safely experiment with drugs without having to use animals as the sole test subjects.
Surgical training: Surgeons would have a chance to practice on realistic organ models prior to actual operations.
How It Works
The printing process of the organs typically involves the following steps:
Cell Collection – Stem cells of the patient or a donor are collected.
Bio-Ink Preparation – The Cells are combined with biomaterials that provide structure and food.
3-D Printing – Layers are printed to create a shape of a tissue or an organ.
Maturation – The printed construct is put into a bioreactor whereby it develops to a functioning tissue.
Transplantation/ Research Use – When it performs, it can be implanted or utilized in research.
Real-World Progress
Organ printing is not merely theory anymore — real progress is being made:
Skin printing: This is done to treat burns and healing wounds.
Cartilage and bone: Printed scaffolds are already in use in reconstructive surgery.
Mini-organs: Miniature liver, kidney, and heart mini-organs are printed so that they can be researched and tested in drug testing.
Full-scale organ research: Scientists are printing real working hearts, kidneys and pancreases to be used in transplants.
Challenges Ahead
Organ printing, despite this promise, has many large challenges:
Complexity: The human organs contain elaborate systems of blood vessels and nerve tissues. They are still difficult to print in full size.
Functionality: Tissues printed should not merely appear like organs but they should also be able to perform the functions of an organ.
Printed organs – Before organs can be used in patients, they must undergo rigorous safety and ethical scrutiny by regulatory authorities.
Cost and scalability: The technology remains very costly and is not yet available to be widely produced.
Looking Forward
One of the most compelling fields of medicine is that of organ printing. In the meantime, with full functioning potential, transplant-ready organs could still be years off but with fast advancements in bioprinting, a new way is becoming open. Organ printing has potential to transform health care across generations, whether by removing organ shortages and saving lives, transforming medical research and personalized care, and more.