| Research groups at the University of Huddersfield in the United Kingdom have recently made major breakthroughs in the field of biological 3D printing. The team developed a special fluid gel that can be used as a medium for suspending biological materials. This will solve the problem of scientists attempting to replicate soft tissue. Frequently asked questions, this is the very low viscosity level of the polymer bioprint material used.  3D bioprinting usually works by laying a layer of biological material in a specific structure and then using it as a scaffold for organic tissue to form. This method has great potential for the treatment of fractures, muscle trauma and other tissue injuries because it can The detailed digital design of artificially oriented tissue growth and has an organic basis can prevent any problems related to biocompatibility. However, the use of this technology to print softer tissues has so far been limited because of the liquid-like texture of biopolymers. The print structure is unstable. Dr. Alan Smith, a reader of biopolymer materials at the Huddersfield School of Applied Science, said: “With a very low viscosity material, when you lay down the first layer, it will collapse under its own weight and cannot maintain its shape, ' Dr. Alan Smith said. 'So when you print the next layer it is not neat.' Together with his colleague Dr. Samuel Moxon of the University of Birmingham, Smith now came up with a way to make the bioprinting of soft tissue more effective. The first layer of these biological tissues will be suspended in the viscous gel made by the researchers without having to Stand alone and adhere to the printing platform. This maintains its stability and allows subsequent layers to be added until the structure is built. The function of the gel is similar to the viscous amniotic fluid that the embryo develops first. Once the structure is completed, the fluid gel can be easily Was washed away without causing any damage to the organization. The university acquired a state-of-the-art biological 3D printer to help further this research and now it can continue with a large number of different applications. The team conducted a successful proof-of-concept on suspended manufacturing technology, a concept published in 'Advanced'. In an article in the journal Materials, entitled "Manufacture of Suspension Biological Structures," this article describes in detail the creation of tissue scaffolds that can be used to produce cartilage plugs to repair cartilage defects. The team is trying to integrate this approach into more advanced tissue engineering studies. They are currently investigating the use of various polymer materials to produce structures that can be clinically tested in relatively short time frames.
One key area is cooperation with stem cells to expand the scope of application of their methods. According to the stimulation of their surroundings, the development of stem cells is different, so they can become bone cells, fat cells, muscle cells or any other type of cells. Depending on their environment. Using stem cells in conjunction with the team's fluid gel suspension method, a basic method can be developed to print graded different types of biomaterials, from very soft to very hard. Source: China 3D Printing Network |
 |
|