A biological 3-D printer can be used to "custom print" a replacement body part, according to University of Nottingham research recently recounted in Forbes.
A patient's own cells, for example, can be used to print replacement material for a jawbone defect or other conditions.
Over the past two decades, 3-D printing has grown in popularity. From the garages and basements of hobbyists, the technology has grown into a $2.7 billion market.
While early 3-D printers were used to create specialized machine parts and odd knick knacks, the latest 3-D printers can utilize living cells to print living bones.
"The tissues of our body are structured at the level of single cells – using 3-D printing, we can position cells in precise places," says Kevin Shakeshaff, a professor of pharmacy at the University of Nottingham in England.
This novel 3-D printer can create a scaffold in the shape of a replacement bone. Once this scaffold has been created, the printer can coat it with stem cells from the patient, allowing for differentiation into different cell types.
Instead of nylon, plastic or powdered metal, the biological printer uses a polymer of alginate (a gel-like substance) and polylactic acid. When combined, these materials can replicate the strength of a patient's natural bones. In addition, this polymer provides cushion materials for stem cells.
