Student Rocklin High School Rocklin, California, United States
Introduction: This project focuses on bioactive 3D printing: the creation of functional tissues and organs using 3D printing technology. The applications across several specialties will be discussed. Limitations and advantages for current technology as well as hopes for the future will also be detailed.
General 3D printing technology, invented in the 1980s, has had countless applications throughout the decades. In recent years, the topic of bioprinting organs has exploded, causing an influx of new advancements and breakthroughs that have been made towards creating fully functional organs and tissues. This specialized 3D printing technology has many applications in different specialties, including education, research, and surgery. In education, these artificial organs give students an augmented learning experience, allowing them to develop a deeper understanding of the anatomy and functions of human body systems. In reserach, once fully functional organs are successfully created, they can provide non-invasive models that enable scientists to repeat experimental trials in a controled environment. In the future of surgery, they can offer an alternative to organ donors and can increate the amount of possible organ transplants. Hydrogel bioprinting in particular, has the potential to revolutionize fields such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, cancer research, in vitro disease modeling, highthroughput drug screening, surgical preparation, soft robotics, and flexible wearable electronics.
Materials and
Methods: 3D bioprinting technology combines computer aided design, computer numerical control, mechanical technology and material science, and layered overlay in order to prototype biological models. 6 will be discussed:
● Stereolithographic 3D printing: laser creates and layers 2D pattern through photopolymerization. ● Vat Photopolymerization: liquid material is cured layer by layer via specialized lighting. ● Material Jetting: individual drops of liquid are dispensed and immediately cured via LED light. ● Material Extrusion: thermoplastic material is melted then hardened. ● Powder Bed Fusion: powders are melted by laser/electron beam, binding particles into a solid. ● Binder Jetting: binder agents jetted to cement powders. Usually used to create molds/ scaffolding.
There are several materials used in the process of 3D bioprinting, separated into two categories: 1) Biomaterial inks: material that is used to print that living cells are later added to post-production a) non-degradable polymers b) biodegradable thermoplastics c) metals, ceramics, glasses 2) Bioinks: specialized medium containing both living cells and biocompatible scaffolding a) most common bioink = hydrogels Hydrogels are materials consisting of many cross-linked polymer chains, making them capable of retaining large amounts of moisture and fostering complex internal development.
Results, Conclusions, and Discussions: Each of these processes have similar limitations, but to varying degrees. Limitations include high cost of printing, limited available printing mediums, and long printing durations.
Hydrogels are commonly used as bioinks due to their: ● Many different types, each one with different potential applications ● Favorable physical, chemical, and biological properties
With the explosive advancement of 3D bioprinting, this technology will no doubt play a major role in the future of the biomedical field. In the future, more advanced 3D printed organ models created with hydrogels will be applicable in the medical field in many ways and will be instrumental in medical research and innovation.
Acknowledgements (Optional): Special thank you to my instructor, Zan Ahmad, who has guided me throughout this project.
References (Optional): Li, J., Wu, C., Chu, P. K., & Gelinsky, M. ( 202 0). 3 D print ing of hydrogels: Rat ional design stra tegies and emerging biomedical applica tions. Materials Science & Enginee ring: R, 14 0, N.PAG. https://doi. org/1 0.1 016 / j.mser.2 020 .10 054 3 Jin, Z., Li, Y., Yu, K. , Liu, L., Fu, J., Yao, X. , Zhang, A. , & He, Y. (2021) . 3D Printing of Physical Organ Mode ls: Recent Developments and Challenges. Advanced Science, 8( 17) , 1–27 . https://doi.org/10 .10 02/advs. 202 101 394 Singh, G., & Mohapatra, M. (2023). Three-dimensional Printing, Bioink, Organ Printing, and Tissue Engineering Technologies, and The ir Applica tion in Modern Ana tomical Pedagogy. National Journal of Clinical Anatomy, 12(4) , 223–22 6. https://do i. org/1 0.4 103 /NJCA.NJCA_1 82_23 Gungor-Ozkerim, P. S. , Inci, I., Zhang, Y . S., Khademhosseini, A., & Dokmeci, M. R. (2 018 , May 1). Bioinks for 3D bioprinting: An overview. Biomaterials science. https://www. ncbi. nlm.n ih.gov/pmc/article s/PMC643 947 7/ https://www. se ma nticschola r. org/paper/The-biological-performance-of-cell-containing-in-Xu- Jang/240a22fae13fac54cfda76bd28cd4f234c317588/figure/2
