One day they could print us replacement organs just like they do with documents today. If you want to know how, at the crossroads between biology and engineering you will find what you are looking for: it's called 3D bioprinting.
3D bioprinting in two words
Bioprinting, the word itself says, is a process that uses the technology of 3d printing to create complex biological structures, such as tissues and organs. Having it available would be equivalent to giving our body a "spare parts center" ready to come into action when we need to replace an organ due to trauma, illness and one day even aging.
Easy enthusiasm, difficult expectations
It must be said honestly: there are still challenges to face. To date, bioprinting uses various materials, including living cells, other biomaterials and growth factors. Its biggest advantage? That of being able to create specific tissues and organs for the patient thanks to the use of special frameworks, real "matrices" made of hydrogelthus reducing the risk of rejection by your immune system.
However, there are still issues to be resolved, mainly related to the structure and resolution of the printing process. For example, the extracellular matrix (ECM), which plays a crucial role in tissue development, or current printing resolution limits the ability to reproduce the smallest features of the native environment.
3D bioprinting: where are we now?
The more advanced techniques, such as the multiphoton lithography (MPL), are starting to achieve much higher resolution, down to around 1 μm. This technology uses lasers to create specific structures within a substrate, which can obviously be biological in nature.
More accurate tissue and organ models for drug testing, patient-specific tissues and organs, and customized implants are just a few of the possibilities this technology could offer.
Obviously, there is still a lot of work to do.
In addition to the structural and resolution challenges (well articulated in a recent study that I link to you here), other issues need to be addressed such as handling combinations of different cell types, determining how much resolution is actually needed, and logistical issues such as storage, cost, and quality control.
Nonetheless, the idea of being able to print replacement parts for our bodies is fascinating, isn't it? The road to widespread use of 3D bioprinting may still be long, but advances in the research and development of this technology promise to revolutionize the field of medicine and improve the lives of millions of people around the world.
