Biological Printing Papers

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Biological Printing
The 3D printing of biological materials could potentially create an efficient alternative for patients who may be waiting to receive an organ as well as creating a new advancement while facilitating and increasing the success rate of surgeries performed by doctors. Bio-printing is the 3D printing of biological materials such as human organs and tissue by using cells from the individual’s body as well as other materials such as metals, plastic, powders, and liquids to make up an organ that will eventually take the place of the original organ, also known as stereolithography. The process Stereolithography was first seen in 1983, when invented by Charles Hull and several colleagues. The cost of Bio-printers can range from 10,000 …show more content…

Not only is it an amazing medical advancement but a quick and efficient alternative to organ transplants. As the bio-printing technology advances the need and use of organ donors will diminish and can potentially eliminate it. The pressure will no longer be there for individuals when having to decide whether or not they want to be an organ donor. Because it can create an organ within hours’ patients may no longer have to wait as long to receive an organ transplant if they are in critical condition. Biological printing saves time, for the time a patient waits as well as recovery time, and time spent in surgery. Because the organ is used from the individuals cultured cells the organ adapts to the body easier than an organ cultured from another individual increasing the success rate of the surgery and lowering any further complications such as rejection. It can also be an alternative for patients with severe burns. They will no longer have to use animal cultures to replace the skin; the patient can have their cells cultured and used in the print. Bio-printing allows individuals to live longer lives. For example, a patient who may be suffering from kidney failure can have his original kidney replaced with a bio-printed kidney and continue to live a healthy life. The patient would not have to go to dialysis for the rest of his life and can …show more content…

Although bio-printing has been around since the early 1980’s there are still questions that have been unanswered. Such as what happens to the bio-printed organ after being in your body for several years? What if the recipient is a baby? The child will continue to grow, does that affect the organ? Does it ever begin to decompose or does the metal within ever begin to oxidize even if it is minimal? Also having a bio-printed organ that may not function exactly as the original organ would is a concern as well. Also, because there is a maximum of how thick the wall of the bio-printed organ can be in width there is a lack of nutrients and oxygen within the organ so channels are printed within, in hopes that they become blood vessels. One of the major problems that scientist are currently facing is that blood vessels are what keep organs in the body up and going, so without blood vessels how is the organ supposed to work? A concern that an individual may also have is being allergic to a material that is used in the print, can it be replaced with another substance? How will that affect the print? With time, the process will advance and new discoveries will be made that will provide answers and allow the process to further progress. There are also ethical issues within the idea of bio-printing. Like when a patient is receiving an

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