Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a cutting-edge technique that uses 3D printing's additive manufacturing technology to create live tissues such as blood vessels, bones, hearts, and skin. Using a layering technique, traditional 3D printing creates three-dimensional solid items from a computer file. A source material, such as plastic, is liquefied, and then the machine adds layer after layer to the platform until you have a fully formed object in the most typical variant. It goes without saying that printing organs is a "tad" more difficult. Researchers discovered in the early 2000s that living cells may be sprayed through the nozzles of inkjet printers without causing damage. It is not enough to have cells; they also require a supportive environment, which includes food, water, and oxygen. Microgels loaded with vitamins, proteins, and other life-sustaining substances now provide these conditions. Furthermore, researchers plant cells around 3D scaffolds comprised of biodegradable polymers or collagen to create conditions that promote the fastest and most efficient cell growth, allowing them to grow into fully functional tissue. Additive manufacturing, often known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, is generating significant advancements in a variety of fields, including engineering, manufacturing, art, education, and medical. Biocompatible materials, cells, and supporting components can now be 3D printed into complex 3D functioning living tissues, thanks to recent breakthroughs. 3D bioprinting is being used in regenerative medicine to meet the need for transplantable tissues and organs.
Title : Electroactive polymer-based smart scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Federico Carpi, University of Florence, Italy