The Bio-Printer: 3-D Organ Printing Leah Acquaviva BME 281 Fall 2014

Organ Transplants There are over 115,000 people on the transplant waiting list 18 people die everyday waiting for an organ to become available 1 organ donor can save 8 lives and change the lives of 50 people

Organ Printing Cells are taken through biopsies or stem cells and then multiplied in a petri dish The mixture is then called a “biological ink” that is fed into the 3-D printer The printer is programmed to make sure the cells are put in the right place and hydrogel is used to support the cells Layer by layer the cells are placed precisely to make a 3-D shape. The 3-D organ will go to a lab to grow and mature more

Benefits Reduce the risk of rejection Reduce the number of patients on the transplant list The organ should wear out or need any maintenance such as a battery replacement Reduces the need for scaffolding which is a method used for transplants Used for pharmaceutical testings

Limitations The lifespan of a 3-D printed organ is very limited ranging from days to very few months. The most difficult part for replicating organs in the vascular network of all organs because they are so precise and complicated Cells of the 3-D organs tend to move when transplanted causing the organ to mis-shape

Different Projects In 2006, Dr. Anthony Atala successfully grew bladders using bladder muscle and wall cells from patients with spina bifida University of Sydney, Stanford, Harvard, and MIT found a way to 3-D print the vascular network of a liver Researchers of Cornell University were able to print a 3-D replacement ear

Future Have the organ's lifespan be long enough for the lifespan of the patient The cost of the technology be reduced so more people can afford it To have the ability to print not only organs but bones also Create a more defined printer that can print miniscule detail and have a more accurate organ print

References "3D Human Liver Tissue Model." Organovo. Organovo, n.d. Web. 20 Sept Davey, Melissa. "3D Printed Organs Come a Step Closer." The Guardian. N.p., 4 July Web. 18 Sept Griggs, Brandon. "The next Frontier in 3-D Printing: Human Organs." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan Web. 20 Sept "Major 3D Printed Organ Breakthrough: Vascular Networks Achieved." 3DPrintcom. N.p., 30 June Web. 20 Sept Passary, Anu. "New Bio-printing Technique Makes Blood Vessels in 3D- printed Organs Possible." Tech Times RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept Wang, Nancy. "Printing Organs with Stem Cells And Two Other Ways NC Projects Might Save The World." WUNC. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept

Picture References Hewitt, John. "Researchers Create World’s First 3D-printed Bionic Organ | ExtremeTech." ExtremeTech. N.p., 2 May Web. 19 Sept "Major 3D Printed Organ Breakthrough: Vascular Networks Achieved." 3DPrintcom. N.p., 30 June Web. 20 Sept "Printing a Human Kidney." Anthony Atala:. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept Velasco, Kristine. "Roadmap." BME240. N.p., Web. 20 Sept