Bioprinting|3D bioprinting technology| 3D bioprinting types and applications 2023

 

Bioprinting 

In Today's world, a novel technology in 2023 is 3D bioprinting technology. A three-dimensional, relatively new technique in biotechnology is called bioprinting.  Nowadays 3D bioprinting and its applications have been used in many research fields. 

What is Bioprinting?

A Three-dimensional, relatively new technique in the biotechnology field is called bioprinting. It involves adding one layer-by-layer of printing to a medium, called plastic. Instead of plastic bio-ink made of cells floating in a unique gel called hydrogel is used by bioprinters. 

This aids in defending, feeding, and holding cells together. While some bio-inks use one type of cell, others use a variety of cell types. 3D bioprinting uses living cells and bio-inks to create a three-dimensional structure that gives a resemblance to tissue.  

Types of  3D Bioprinting

There are three types of 3D bioprinting.

Extrusion-based Bioprinting:

It is a traditional 3D bio-printing technology. To produce a 3D structure, continuous filaments of a substance are forced into a nozzle. Compressed pressure is used to force filaments through the nozzle. It is vital to stabilize the bio-ink.

Droplet-based Bioprinting: 

At a high- level, a force pulse is employed to expel a droplet of bio-ink. Next droplets of bioink are deposited under air pressure.

Energy-based bioprinting: 

 In energy-based 3D bioprinting, a bioink is selectively stabilized using a focused energy source, frequently a laser. In contrast to extrusion-based bioprinting and droplet-based bioprinting, this technique uses pre-instead bioink.

Stereolithography is the most well-known energy-based bioprinting technique. In this technique, a little amount of bioink that includes a light-sensitive hydrogel is hardened using a laser.

 

3D Bioprinting Methods:

The process is split into three parts pre-processing, main bioprinting, and post-processing.

Pre-Bioprinting:

In the first stage, raw material is used to prepare certain organs or tissue for biopsy. 2D images are finished and sent to 3D printers for a layer-by-layer approach.

Bioprinting:

Bio inks are inserted into printer cartridges for the 3D bio-printing process using the layer-by-layer technique. 

Post-Bioprinting:

This completes the process of printing. It provides a stable structure of printed biomaterials. The transmission of 3D-printed products is preserved by this process.

3D Bioprinting Applications: 

The 3D bioprinting applications are implemented in many research areas including:

Body Tissue Reconstruction:  

It serves as the foundation of 3D bioprinting technology. Reconstructing essential biological tissue is made easier with 3D bioprinting.

Transparent Organs:

The right environment is given to these newly created tissues in 3D bio-printing so they can continue to divide and develop into organs. Thus it offers artificial organs for transplants and procedures with natural-looking characteristics.

Organizations for Research:

  The success of 3D bioprinting in the production of biomaterials and organs. A new phase of the medical trial is inaugurated. The tissues are used to explore interactions and responses between drugs and organs.

Bioprinting Applications in Scientific Domain:

3D bioprinting applications have been used in a variety of scientific domains including cancer research, high-throughput drug screening, clinics, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.

Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering:

It is difficult to bio-print functional organs since they need to be connected to a network of blood vessels that contain a variety of cell types to create complex tissue and have structural and mechanical integrity. Several tissues including blood vessels have been printed. Human vascular tissues were extracted to create printed cardiac tissue.

Using printed Transplant tissues:

Animals have received transplants from a variety of 3D bioprinting tissue types, including heart, and skin, to research how they operate inside a host. Because FDA has not approved investigations so they are not conducted on humans.

3D Bioprinting can be used to produce meat. For this, specific cells need to be gathered where the cells are maintained and multiply. The required cells can be printed, the thing left is meat.

High Throughput Screening for Drugs:

Testing a large number of potential drugs necessitates a financial and human resource investment. As they resemble genuine tissue that can be produced by microarrays and 3D tissue engineering. 3D-printed tissue models can help in assessing the efficacy of the proposed medication. Generating novel drugs through 3D bioprinting is the most significant achievement in the biotechnology field. 

Cancer Bioprinting Research:

Due to the absence of three-dimensional interactions with surrounding cells and substrates, two-dimensional tumor models do not simulate relevant environments. To make findings on cancer development and metastasis that are relevant, bioprinting provides a way to comprehend cellular interaction in three dimensions.

 3D Bioprinting technology

Advantages of 3D Bioprinting:

 Organ Shortage Problem solution: 

There is a global organ shortage problem. Many patients wait for donations although there are organ donations. The bioprinting industry can close this supply and demand imbalance if improvements are made. Additionally, it has shortened patients' wait times for organ transplants.

Cost-Efficient Approach: 

The development of 3D bioprinting in the pharmaceutical and medical fields is a miracle. The cost of working on and researching natural organs is high. Compared to biological organs, 3D-printed organs are inexpensive. As a result, 3D bioprinting technology is an economical method in the field of medicine 

More speed and Precision:

The entire bioprinting process is quicker and more accurate than older conventional technologies. 

Reduce Animal Killing: 

The usage of 3D bioprinting has reduced the need for animal testing. Few animals are now killed each year for use in clinical research and testing. This 3D bioprinting technology protects the natural fauna of our ecosystem. 

 Drawbacks of 3D Bioprinting:

In order to get successful results from bioprinting, various bio-inks of low density are needed.  When bioprinting is done dangerous gases are released. One of the main issues with 3D bioprinting is the lack of accuracy in droplet size and positioning. Drawbacks can be mitigated because 3D bioprinting applications are enormous and benefit humans, and overall it enhances global health.