Today's Practice: Changing the Business of Medicine TP2018Q2DigitalEditionWeb | Page 92

T E CHNOL OGY
Engineering the Future
So what is bioprinting?
It involves recreating the 3D structure of a tissue using a
fabrication technique wherein a computer program
builds a structure layer-by-layer using biocompatible
materials (or bioinks) and cells. These bioinks are
designed to mimic the architecture of the extracellular
matrix in which cells are suspended to aid in their
specific differentiation. Additionally, cells themselves
can be incorporated into these constructs.
Madeline Winter
It should come as no surprise that geometry matters
within biology. Signaling pathways activated in 2D are
very different from 3D and cells on a petri dish do not
accurately represent features and functionality of the
human body. It’s time we added another dimension to
the study of biology.
You can start imagining building a complex organ
step-by-step using the 3D images, such as those from
MRI and CT scans, native cells from a patient, and
biologically compatible materials. This technology is
still in its nascense and is currently only used in
research settings but we are beginning to see the excit-
ing early developments that will lead to life changing
clinical applications.
How is bioprinting
technology used
today?
Create Custom Bone
and Cartilage
Grafts
How many of us
have titanium hips
and screws in our
joints? By under-
standing
the
specific defect size,
through
either
MRI or CT, and
combining
3D
bioprinting with
the
correct,
advanced biomate-
rial, a surgeon will
one day make a 3D
printed structure in
the shape of the
patient’s bone void and
implant that structure,
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TODAY ’ S P R A C T I C E: C H A N G I N G T H E B US I NES S OF M EDI C I NE