The Bio-Printer:3-D Organ Printing

Leah AcquavivaBME 281 Fall 2014

Organ Transplants

There are over 115,000 people on the transplant waiting list

18 people die everyday waiting for an organ to become available

1 organ donor can save 8 lives and change the lives of 50 people

Organ Printing Cells are taken through biopsies or stem cells and

then multiplied in a petri dish The mixture is then called a “biological ink” that is

fed into the 3-D printer The printer is programmed to make sure the cells are

put in the right place and hydrogel is used to support the cells

Layer by layer the cells are placed precisely to make a 3-D shape.

The 3-D organ will go to a lab to grow and mature more

Benefits Reduce the risk of rejection

Reduce the number of patients on the transplant list

The organ should wear out or need any maintenance such as a battery replacement

Reduces the need for scaffolding which is a method used for transplants

Used for pharmaceutical testings

Limitations

The lifespan of a 3-D printed organ is very limited ranging from days to very few months.

The most difficult part for replicating organs in the vascular network of all organs because they are so precise and complicated

Cells of the 3-D organs tend to move when transplanted causing the organ to mis-shape

Different Projects

In 2006, Dr. Anthony Atala successfully grew bladders using bladder muscle and wall cells from patients with spina bifida

University of Sydney, Stanford, Harvard, and MIT found a way to 3-D print the vascular network of a liver

Researchers of Cornell University were able to print a 3-D replacement ear

Future

Have the organ's lifespan be long enough for the lifespan of the patient

The cost of the technology be reduced so more people can afford it

To have the ability to print not only organs but bones also

Create a more defined printer that can print miniscule detail and have a more accurate organ print

References"3D Human Liver Tissue Model." Organovo. Organovo, n.d. Web. 20 Sept.

2014.

Davey, Melissa. "3D Printed Organs Come a Step Closer." The Guardian. N.p., 4 July 2014. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.

Griggs, Brandon. "The next Frontier in 3-D Printing: Human Organs." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.

"Major 3D Printed Organ Breakthrough: Vascular Networks Achieved." 3DPrintcom. N.p., 30 June 2014. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.

Passary, Anu. "New Bio-printing Technique Makes Blood Vessels in 3D-printed Organs Possible." Tech Times RSS. N.p., n.d. Web.

20 Sept. 2014.

Wang, Nancy. "Printing Organs with Stem Cells And Two Other Ways NC Projects Might Save The World." WUNC. N.p., n.d. Web. 19

Sept. 2014.

Picture References

Hewitt, John. "Researchers Create World’s First 3D-printed Bionic Organ | ExtremeTech." ExtremeTech. N.p., 2 May 2013. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

"Major 3D Printed Organ Breakthrough: Vascular Networks Achieved." 3DPrintcom. N.p., 30 June 2014. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.

"Printing a Human Kidney." Anthony Atala:. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2014.

Velasco, Kristine. "Roadmap." BME240. N.p., 2008. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.