An article from Smithsonian Magazine in May of 2015
investigates a new technology called “Bio-printing”. Scientists and researchers
at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in North Caroline working
with this new technology in hopes of revolutionizing the world of medicine
through the development of bioengineered replacement organs. Bio-printers
function using similar technology to a 3-D printer.
This technology uses “biocompatible plastic that, when
printed, [forms] the interlocking structure of a scaffold—the skeleton,
essentially—of a printed human organ or body part” (1), in combination with gel
containing “human cells or proteins” to promote cell growth allowing scientists
to create living replicas of human body parts.
The technology is still being developed by scientists and
researchers at the Wake Forest Institute but Anthony Atala, a pediatric
urologist and the institute’s director believes that developing this technology
could prove to completely revolutionize the medical field by making traditional
organ transplant obsolete since the surgical risks of traditional transplant
would be eliminated with the substitute of bio-engineered organs which would
not only match but come directly from the recipient of the transplant. Atala
foresees a future where bio-printed organ transplant technology will allow
humans to replace body parts similarly to the way we would order a new part for
our cars if they needed to be replaced.
To learn more about Bio-Printing check out this video
or read the full article here at
Happy Sunday
