3D technology is growing fast. Keeping up with the latest research on using 3D printers and 3D scanners in daily life, medicine and industry is something developed countries around the world have long been doing. Let’s look back at some of the news from the past month.

• Optical 3D inspection | Using a 3D scanner to check dimensions and profiles.
• Formlabs FORM 2 3D printer – USA
• SLA/SLP/LCD 3D printing service for smooth parts – batch 3D printing of fewer than 1,000 parts

3D printing technology in medicine.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. A heart transplant is often the only option for patients with severe heart disease. However, the number of heart donors is limited, while the number of patients who need a transplant is very large, which leads to a shortage of hearts. Fortunately, Israeli scientists have successfully used 3D printing to print a heart, opening new hope for patients who need a transplant. The study by scientists at Tel Aviv University was published in the journal Advanced Science on April 15. In this article, Hello Bacsi looks at how the Israeli scientists did it. Recently, researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel revealed a study that may answer this question. In their latest announcement, they said they had successfully used a 3D bioprinter to create a complete heart with tissue and blood vessels similar to a human heart. The researchers call it a “medical breakthrough” because it could improve the success rate of heart transplants. However, this 3D printed heart still has some limitations:

• First, the heart is only the size of a rabbit’s heart. At a press event at Tel Aviv University, the scientists showed a 3D printed heart about the size of a cherry, immersed in liquid. They said the same technique could be used to create a heart the size of a real human heart.
• Second, although the cells in this 3D heart can contract, they cannot yet pump blood. The researchers still need to find a way to make the heart work like a real human heart.

Dr. Tal Dvir, who leads the project at Tel Aviv University’s School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, said: “This heart is made from human cells and patient-specific biological materials. In our process these materials serve as bioinks, substances made of sugars and proteins that can be used to 3D print complex tissue. This is not the first 3D printed heart, but earlier ones were incomplete because they lacked clear cells and blood vessels.” Medical scientists had already been able to print cartilage and aortic valves, but had not yet printed capillaries, a very important type of blood vessel that lets organs survive and function fully. He added that the researchers plan to transplant these 3D hearts into animals next year. “Maybe in 10 years, there will be organ printers in the finest hospitals around the world, and these procedures will be done routinely,” he said. Even so, he hopes hospitals can start printing other organs that are simpler than the heart in the near future. A 3D printed heart could solve the most serious problem with transplants: the patient’s body rejecting the new organ. To apply 3D printing in medicine, the Tel Aviv University researchers proposed using a biopsy of the patient’s fatty tissue (to develop a personalized hydrogel) as the ink needed to print the heart. Dr. Dvir said: “The biocompatibility of engineered materials is crucial to eliminating the risk of implant rejection, which directly affects the outcome of such treatments.” This way, 3D printed hearts and other human organs could essentially be customized for each patient. He also hopes 3D printing in medicine will make organ transplants simpler. However, there are still many challenges in using this technique for treatment. The resolution of current 3D printers is still limited, and they struggle to print all the tiny blood vessels. Researchers also need to figure out how to multiply the cells to get enough tissue for a real human heart. Still, this is an important step for modern medicine, since using 3D printing to create a heart as large as a real human heart is very feasible. Dr. Dvir’s team includes Dr. Assaf Shapira of the Faculty of Life Sciences and PhD student Nadav Noor of Tel Aviv University. If you are interested, follow the link below to see images of the heart created with 3D printing in medicine.  

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Frequently asked questions

How is 3D bioprinting different from regular 3D printing?

Bioprinting uses inks containing living cells and biomaterials instead of plastic or metal. The printer must keep sterile conditions and the right temperature and pressure so the cells do not die during printing, and the printed tissue then needs to be cultured to grow.

When could 3D printed hearts be transplanted into people?

There is no firm timeline yet. As the Tel Aviv team noted, the 3D printed heart is still small and cannot pump blood, so many more years of animal testing and clinical trials are needed before it can be used in patients.

What is bioink made of?

Bioink usually combines cells with a hydrogel scaffold, which may be collagen, gelatin, alginate or material extracted from the patient’s own tissue. Using the patient’s own material helps reduce the risk of rejection.

How is 3D printing used in healthcare today?

The most common uses are printing anatomical models for surgical planning, cutting guides, orthopedic braces, prosthetic limbs and dental models. 3D printed metal implants, such as titanium, are also used in orthopedics.

Can a hospital or clinic order anatomical models printed from CT scans?

Yes. CT or MRI data is converted into a 3D model with specialized software, then printed in plastic or resin for viewing and patient consultation. For help with modeling and printing, contact CT3D via Hotline/Zalo 0975 008 728.

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• On-demand 3D printing service
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