Jul 26, 2017 | By Benedict
Researchers at Australia’s University of Wollongong have found a way to 3D print human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using a special bioink. The technique could be used to print “any type” of bodily tissue, including brain tissue.
3D printed neurons (left) and the iPSC-laden bioink
When a group of scientists claims to have made a breakthrough in the 3D printing of human pluripotent stem cells, the medical industry is sure to take notice. After all, every step taken in this area of research brings the industry a step closer to 3D printing transplantable human organs.
The latest group of scientists to contribute a significant discovery to the field comes from Australia’s University of Wollongong, whose ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) has found a new way of 3D printing human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with a custom-developed bioink.
The researchers say anybody’s cells can be used to generate the iPSCs, which can then be 3D printed to fit with any cell environment.
“This flexible 3D tissue engineering technology enables iPSCs generated from an individual’s own body to divide after printing and differentiate in a way that will allow us to form and replace any tissue type of the body,” commented Associate Professor Jeremy Crook, a stem cell expert at the University of Wollongong.
The University of Wollongong's Jeremy Crook
In a study that has been published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, Crook and the other researchers—Qi Gu, Eva Tomaskovic-Crook, and ACES director Gordon G. Wallace—explain how they have already begun preclinical safety studies so that they can further advanced their 3D printed tissues for use in medical research.
Although this kind of research can be applied to pharmaceutical testing and other areas, the University of Wollongong scientists firmly believe their 3D printed tissues could eventually be used for human transplantation.
“By developing this further we will be able to generate healthy and diseased tissues for research, identifying better drugs for medicine and replacing or repairing damaged tissues or organs due to injury or disease,” Crook said.
The ACES team even thinks its bioink-produced tissues could result in transplants with a lower risk of immune rejection.
This is just one of many reasons that the Australia-based researchers believe in the bioprinting of iPSCs for surgical treatment. But the work could be used in other areas too.
Diagram of the researchers' 3D printing setup
“Other work in the pipeline involves disease modelling and related drug effect studies,” Crook said.
This stage of research follows the group’s efforts to 3D structures that support the growth of brain-like tissue from human neural stem cells—an area of study that could help scientists better understand the human brain.
“Such advances are only possible through a combination of a diverse array of skills spanning materials science, cell biology, and mechatronic engineering,” Wallace said. “This convergence means we are making rapid progress towards outcomes of clinical significance.”
Using a 3D printer to create nerve cells found in the brain could help medical professionals treat conditions like brain injury, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and schizophrenia. Many neuropsychiatric disorders result from an imbalance of neurotransmitters; by 3D printing neurons that produce neurotransmitters like Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin, the researchers believe they can directly combat these conditions.
“We might want to make a tissue that specifically generates that neurotransmitter for grafting into the brain of a Parkinson's patient,” Crook said. “That's absolutely achievable.”
The 3D printed neurons are made by printing layers of the bioink into a hatched pattern to create a 5 mm cube. The cube is then crosslinked to make a firm jelly-like substance, after which growth factors and nutrients were applied to the cube, encouraging stem cells to grow and transform into neurons and support cells.
Crook admitted that a fully 3D printed brain is a long way off, but believes his team’s work could yet play a significant part in the history of the medicine.
Posted in 3D Printing Technology
Maybe you also like:
- Fleximatter makes large furniture 3D printable with high-speed color-blending 3D printing tech
- Japan's Daihen makes copper 3D printable using a M2 3D printer and 3D laminate shaping
- Delft researchers pioneer 3D printed smart implants with self-folding properties
- Liquid Factory: Reebok uses liquid material 3D printing to bring sneaker creation back to US
- Largest European 3D bioprinting program kicks off at Maastricht University and Brightlands Materials Center
- Korean researchers develop new silk 3D printing system for bone fracture implants
- Nanoscale FEBID 3D printing technique produces pure gold nanostructures
- Does infill pattern change your 3D print's tensile strength? A new study has the answer
- MIT's Foundry design tool makes multi-material 3D printing easier and more precise than ever
- Disney Research uses math and metal balls to balance 3D printed models any way you want
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
