Aimee Rivas

Mrs. Blattman
Biology 1010
Period 1

Rivas 1

3D Printing in Biology
Ever since the success of the first organ transplant and the
advances that would soon add to it, the future of restoring holes in
humans has arrived to the peak of solid ingenuity. The supply and
demand for organs has never been more on the rise then when a
surprising process - 3D printing- brought its possibilities into a
revolutionized find. The unassuming 3D printing technique is no
stranger to biology, as it was previously used as medical
visualizations/models or molds for tools. Now, nearly at the start of this
century it's launched the capability to produce human tissue, and has
been reworked into constructing blood vessels, skin tissue, livers,
kidneys, and even hearts. This simple access 3D micro architect has
regenerative properties that puts together the human body with easea new medical achievement and phase that makes way for longer living
bodies in their abundant supply of suitable engineered organs.
Bioprinting's swift organ stitching and meticulous prodding are
complex procedures that impress doctors every day and have many
agreeing upon its usefulness nestled into the field. The same strength
it bares is also the downfall of the machine, as any magnificent threedimensional piece is spied for flaws. The very new, almost amateurish
nature of 'printing' man-made organs is at the top of the reasons why
3D printing may be frowned upon. Some scientist and doctors have
been questioning the ethics of implanting inorganic, plastic models of
incomplete 'organs' in humans, and basically other mistreatments from
leaning towards artificial and away from traditional/medical. Less vocal
and more logical, the chance of projects taking the back seat is
virtually changed with the amount of attention needed for growing
organs. The process is done by 2 inch layers upon layer of cells
bounding together (after printing) and being combined with varied
materials similar to the organ in construction. The inexperience with
fabricating organs and materials compatible to the human body takes
a long time, and the precision needed to have the organ smoothly
match the recipient for accurate size and need can be stressful. An
unofficial instrument has to add up to be perfect, and so possibilities
of the body rejecting the print object is just the same to regular
organs, but drowned out with lost time and costs. As the plastic is an
imitation piece, it doesn't have all the necessities a normal organ
needs, which really sets the product back for development. Like any

Aimee Rivas
Mrs. Blattman
Biology 1010
Period 1

Rivas 1

other ordinary organ that needs blood vessels to obtain nutrients and
oxygen, this system falls short of a convenient replacement as it can only
form the structure of the organ. A tech-forward attitude, a consumption
of energy, an intricate process, and a lump of plastic, this idea of
mismatching cells and producing a mass akin to an organ but still
falling too short of the mark has many underestimating its use. It's
quite a thing that requires extra study and extra hope, but its
newness of achievements are just not long-term statistics to guarantee
the future of these organs being the best choice. Few scientists and
doctors conclude that 3D printing is just not the scientific
breakthrough needed right now.
The inclusion of printing in biology is experiencing its early days of
service, has bumps in the road, but is neither quite here nor there on any
side discrediting or full-on affiliating the tricky work of growing body
parts. Its flaws could raise eyebrows or gather attention, but its glories
really outshine the past of technology. Artificial organs have never come
farther along in advancements since being an aide back in 2003.
Upon learning cells could be printed out to make almost real working
organs, the goal to save transplants immediately launched and the
process has only gotten more refined and closer to the leading
product. Although primarily a plastic printing machine, 3D printers are
now able to print in different materials, including graphene which is
more durable than plastic, and even fine textures like tissue and
makeshift bones- less inorganic with biological matter at the helm.
There might seem to be a risk in going with the bioprinting method
given the con facts of money and the body rejecting foreign things
constantly, but currently, personalizing the organs to be dynamic in
matching the user's cells leads to a rejection in the body being rare.
Money itself is expensive, upwards to millions of dollars, but the actual
cost of organ failure and those needing transplants is greater, to a
billion dollars. With technology growing, medicine and manufacturing
can smooth out by 3D printers comfortably and conveniently spawning
body parts, saving more money than the ordinary practice. There have
been more benefits to 3D printing than initially thought, all changing
misfortunes for the better. Prosthetic limbs are more affordable and
user friendly in the low-cost world of 3D printing. X-rays and skin cells
pinpointed on a computer help to bring about perfect, comforting
limbs. One of the more intriguing experiments that greenlight

Aimee Rivas
Mrs. Blattman
Biology 1010
Period 1

Rivas 1

bioprinting is biomaterial, biological matter or substances - as capable

as a full grown printed organ- that serve as guinea pigs. Tests to see
what techniques could help improve the structure and biocompatibility
(like Alginate), or micro channels that can get nutrients and oxygen
(from other tissues) to make up for no blood vessels. The testing out
of drugs for human benefit can also apply to miniature testing organs
that include no harm, relate closer to human organ systems, and could
possibly end testing on animals.
The use of 3D printing in biology and medical advances really is
quite unique and mind blowing that times have come to trouble-free
access of human cells and how possible it is to form this mass. More
lives are virtually saved by the possibility of a never ending supply of
organs, and with the ever sharper growing minds of this world, it is
very possible to see lost lives live longer.

Citations:
Journal of Biological Engineering 2015 By: Helena N Chia & Benjamin M Whu

Nature Biotechnology/ Authors: Sean V Murphy & Anthony Atala/ Published:

August 5th, 2014

Website Title: Science 2.0

Article Title: Want To 3D Print Yourself A New Organ? Top 10 List Of Challe[]

(Published September 12, 2013)

Wikipedia, Organ Printing