Organ printing: computer-aided jet-based 3D tissue engineering

Trends Biotechnol. 2003 Apr;21(4):157-61. doi: 10.1016/S0167-7799(03)00033-7.

Abstract

Tissue engineering technology promises to solve the organ transplantation crisis. However, assembly of vascularized 3D soft organs remains a big challenge. Organ printing, which we define as computer-aided, jet-based 3D tissue-engineering of living human organs, offers a possible solution. Organ printing involves three sequential steps: pre-processing or development of "blueprints" for organs; processing or actual organ printing; and postprocessing or organ conditioning and accelerated organ maturation. A cell printer that can print gels, single cells and cell aggregates has been developed. Layer-by-layer sequentially placed and solidified thin layers of a thermo-reversible gel could serve as "printing paper". Combination of an engineering approach with the developmental biology concept of embryonic tissue fluidity enables the creation of a new rapid prototyping 3D organ printing technology, which will dramatically accelerate and optimize tissue and organ assembly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Organs*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Computer-Aided Design*
  • Culture Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Culture Techniques / trends
  • Models, Biological*
  • Tissue Engineering / instrumentation*
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Engineering / trends