Scientists Can Now 3D Print Tissues Directly Inside the Body—No Surgery Needed
1 min read
Summary
A team at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in the US has created a system using bioprinting to produce tailored biological tissues and medicine deep inside the body.
The technology, called deep tissue in vivo sound printing (DISP), uses an injectable bioink that is liquid at body temperature but solidifies into structures when hit with ultrasound.
The team used the system to print tissue cells inside the stomachs of rabbits and mice, and also added conductive nanoparticles to print biosensors and reservoirs of medication.
Further tests created biosensors printed into muscle tissue under the skin of rabbits, and anti-cancer depots printed into the bladders of mice, which slowly released the drugs when hit with ultrasound.
The team believes the technology could eventually be used to 3D print tissues or organs customised for individual patients, and could provide sustained doses of medications to specific areas of the body, avoiding side effects.
