Printing Organs with 3D Technology

Summary

The lack of organs is a well‐known global health issue. The development of 3D printing has long been considered a potential remedy for the lack of organs. With the right bioink, 3D printers can create biological cells, tissues, and even organs. The technology used to print organs functions in a manner akin to that of standard 2D desktop printers. Ink is applied in layers to accomplish this. Up until the desired shape is obtained, this is done. However, this machine prints with a bioink, not a 3D printer. Human cells that are still alive make up this bioink. Skin grafts and surgical models are two medical applications of this new 3D printing technology. Yet this is the first time they have managed to create an organ that can be used for transplant. Instead of using animal testing, which frequently yields unreliable results, this technology could aid in studying drug interactions on real humans. For people with liver or kidney disorders who now rely on donors or artificial implants, this technology holds considerable potential. For patients in need, 3D printing technology is currently being used to manufacture transplants that work, and it will only get better in the years to come. The bladder is the only organ that has been 3D printed and implanted into a human being successfully. The tissue from the host's bladder was used to create the bladder. According to some researchers, the capacity to customize organs to suit the recipient is a potential advantage of 3D‐printed organs. However, opponents argue that the technology is still in its early stages and that 3D‐printed organs are not as good as natural ones. They are also apprehensive about the ethical implications of cultivating organs in a laboratory.