By: Noshin Chowdhury
According to the statistics provided by HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration), a total of 39,718 organ transplants took place in the year 2019. It is indeed a substantial number, however, it is also nothing compared to the 112,000+ patients on the transplant waiting list. The notable difference between these numbers affects lives significantly; 20 people pass each day waiting for an organ transplant. To make matters worse:
Only 3 in 1000 people die in a way suitable to donate organs
Every 10 minutes, one person is added to the waiting list
Only 60% of the U.S adults are signed up to be donors
This concerning issue resulted in various measures taken by the government and professionals in the medical field; for instance, raising awareness through campaigns, support groups, new surgical methods, and more. Nonetheless, none of them appeared to be as efficient bioprinting.
This technology was created for non-biological purposes by Charles Hull and the promise of printing new organs started way back in 1983. At the same time, the first 3D bioprinter was created in 2003 by Thomas Boland. It was capable of printing living tissue from cells, nutrients, and other biocompatible substances. Bioprinting is not widely used yet. In fact, most people have no knowledge about it despite its life-changing potential. 3D bioprinting of artificial organs is revolutionary since it will make medical care faster, more personalized, and way more efficient. This allows researchers to create precise and well defined artificial organs in a rapid, financially-friendly, and less time-consuming way. Bioprinting eliminates most chances of the patient rejecting the new organ because of the organs being made from the patient’s own cells and tissues. It reduces the need for donors and is expected to save countless lives. Bioprinting works in a very complicated way which goes like so:
Every tissue in the body is made from different types of cells. The required cells are taken from the patient. In some cases, adult stem cells are used.
These cells are used as “bio-ink” for the printer.
Since a large number of cells are needed, bioprinters deliver synthetic glue that a cell can attach itself on and grow.
It follows detailed computer designs.
The printer heads the cells exactly where they are needed to create the organ.
After hours, an organ is created and available for use.
There are different types of printing methods, such as extrusion, inkjet printing, etc. These methods are all different and have their own strengths. Extrusion bioprinting means soft materials being loaded into the cartridges and extruded from the nozzle through pneumatic or mechanical actuation. Different materials can be printed into the same structure resulting in a diverse and heterogeneous organ. The inkjet method, on the other hand, involves dispensing droplets of dilute solutions. It is one of the fastest and cheapest bioprinting options. These methods are still being tested, but some of them have already regenerated skin cells for burn victims, create blood vessels, synthetic ovaries, and even a pancreas.
This extremely awaited technology might make its way into the medical industry soon. The human body and its components are way more complicated than what meets the eye and perfecting these printers is a long, difficult process. Once it is perfected, however, it will give way to many more exciting new possibilities and make healthcare a better facility for us all.
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