Researchers claim that they have cracked the code when it comes to using 3D printing to create stem cells — so what happens next?
Unfortunately, organ donors are few and far between. Even if you have a potential match, after spending a long time on a waiting list, conditions worsen and an organ may not be accepted. The lack of available organs is one that causes hospitals to enter continual battles over the rationing of such resources. As a surgeon I know told me, this can not only strain the relationship between different hospitals, but of course also impact patients. So what can be done, except finding artificial methods to prolong life until organs become available, or creating substitutes for organs? A new technique, pioneered by researchers at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland in collaboration with stem cell technology company Roslin Cellab, uses 3D-printing technology — otherwise used in robotics, gun manufacture and as a replacement for photography — in the hopes to eventually eliminate the need for organ donation, immunosuppressant drugs and organ transplant rejection. The new valve-based process takes advantage of the fact that stem cells can now be grown in labs. A printer creates a three-dimensional sphere which contains delicate embryonic cell cultures that float in a liquid medium. These cells are then built up using an adjustable “microvalve” to create layers and encourage cells to spawn. As stem cells can become any organ in the body, being able to quickly produce them could result in 3D-printed organs specifically tailored to a patient’s body. Dr. Shu said: “In the longer term, we envisage the technology being further developed to create viable 3D organs for medical implantation from a patient’s own cells, eliminating the need for organ donation, immune suppression and the problem of transplant rejection.” The team say this is the first time that cells have ever been printed using 3D-printing techniques. More importantly, the cells survived the experimental process, and in the first stages the breakthrough will be used to develop drug-testing products. Jason King, business development manager of Roslin Cellab, commented: “Normally laboratory-grown cells grow in 2D but some cell types have been printed in 3D. However, up to now, human stem cell cultures have been too sensitive to manipulate in this way. This is a scientific development which we hope and believe will have immensely valuable long-term implications for reliable, animal-free drug-testing and in the longer term to provide organs for transplant on demand.” . On Fri, Jul 19, 2013 at 8:30 PM, OrionWorks - Steven Vincent Johnson < orionwo...@charter.net> wrote: > The claim is that Within five years 3D printing will be possible using a > variety of materials not previously possible. This includes metal (Metal! > That absolutely blows my mind!), nylon, clay, wood pulp, and many types of > plastics and polymers. The complexity of what can be "printed" will > continue to increase. Kiplinger gave an example of where 3D printing might > be used to create not just the plastic housing of a tape measure, but > actual kind of tape as well. Another example that currently is being > developed is a company that customizes brackets to mount a GPS receiver on > a bike**** > > ** ** > > What's amazing about 3D printing is that what used to take a week and cost > $300 will soon be able to be accomplished in about two hours - for perhaps > ten bucks. The shoe company, New Balance is working out the plans to churn > out custom athletic shoes with 3-D printers in some of their stores. What > about people with odd sized feet, like my wife! I don’t think they should > focus just on athletic shoes. **** > > ** ** > > I suspect there’s probably a HUGE market for all sorts of customized > products, and not just for shoes. I could see how companies like Café Press > and Zazzle could incorporate 3D printing in order to manufacture all sorts > of products. For example, I currently have a Zazzle store front at:**** > > ** ** > > http://www.zazzle.com/orionworks**** > > ** ** > > With new 3D printing technology at their disposal, artists like me and my > wife could go to town possibly developing all sorts of customized products > for customers.**** > > ** ** > > Kiplinger concluded with an imaginary scene, of "Coming to fashion runways > soon: High-tech clothing with amazing features... fabrics that change > colors, repel oil, kill bacteria, charge cell phones and more. What this > implies: There will be lots of Military and blue-collar apparel. 3D > printing will allow chemical nanolayers that help protect soldiers from > biological weapons. It will help outdoor workers from bug bites too. The 3D > process will also be useful for restaurant workers, helping them stay > clean. It will also help mechanics ward off oil stains.**** > > ** ** > > Neat!**** > > ** ** > > Still, I wonder when the wall socket will become obsolete! ;-)**** > > ** ** > > Regards,**** > > Steven Vincent Johnson**** > > svjart.OrionWorks.com**** > > www.zazzle.com/orionworks**** > > tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/newvortex/**** > > ** ** >
