Scientists have 3D-Printed mini transplantable human livers for the first time ever. The kidney are currently miniature in size, but with about 90% of the printed cells being alive. "Samples of human kidney cells are cultivated in large volumes and blended with hydrogel and water and nutrition-rich material that makes up the 3D kidney's base. Afterwards, the printed cells can survive for up to four months in labs thanks to this gel's rich nutrient source.
Of course this is different from plastic printing in a factory. They couldn't just simply manufacture some bones and processed tissue and expect to insert it into patients, why because product contains living and growing cells. According to Xu Mingen, the lead researcher and professor at a Huazhong University of Science and Technology in eastern Zhejiang Province:
- Its different from traditional 3D printing - to print a cup, we have to fill up the object with our material. But this method doesn't work in cells because a cell contains blood vessels and has tissue space. We have to make sure to spare enough space for them to grow.
It amazing that scientist have become this creative with 3D printing. It is only a matter of time before patients will be able to walk into hospitals, and shop around for replaceable body parts. Certain questions come to mind when looking at the potential of this product. This could significantly reduce medical cost, while giving the ability to those who may have failed organs or lost limbs a way live normally again.
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