Portuguese Researchers Review Potential of 4D Bioprinting in Regenerative Medicine http://bit.ly/2RjKi1f 3D printing has been progressing rapid-speed over the past few years, with numerous forays to the next level into 4D printing, whether in serious world-changing endeavors or those that are creative and sometimes even whimsical, such as fashion. Now, researchers see that 4D advancements in bioprinting may trickle down to doctor’s offices too. Authors Pedro Morouço and João Gil of Biofabrication RDi Group, Centre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development at Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (Portugal) expand on their findings in Four-Dimensional Bioprinting for Regenerative Medicine: Mechanisms to Induce Shape Variation and Potential Applications. Regenerative medicine is a central focus in bioprinting as researchers around the world try to overcome the challenges of sustaining living tissue in the lab. The end goal, the holy grail of bioprinting, will be to eventually fabricate human organs in the lab—or perhaps even in clinical practice—meaning the elimination of donor lists, organ rejection, and failing quality of life for a multitude of patients globally.
The team leans toward using 3D printing and venturing into the 4D however, pointing out the potential for greater strides in medicine and tissue regeneration, with so much more control over pore size, shape, and interconnectivity. With 4D printing, researchers can move beyond the restrictions of implants unable to transform according to their biological environment.
Bioinks are commonly used in fabricating viable cells, but they must meet certain criteria for success and researchers must navigate fragility to temperature as well as peripheral chemicals, stress, and issues like UV light exposure. Significant progress has been made with ‘smart materials’ also, namely with bioprinting and some level of shape-morphing. And while creating patient-specific organs may seem to be right around the corner, the research team points out that there is still much progress to be made in creating human tissue structures in the lab.
What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com. [Source / Images: Four-Dimensional Bioprinting for Regenerative Medicine: Mechanisms to Induce Shape Variation and Potential Applications]
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