3D Printing of Living Cells

By DE Editors

The process of 3D printing, essentially layered printing of a structure, building up to a complex 3D shape, can be applied to printing living mammalian cells, according to James Yoo at the Institute of Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC; wfirm.org/industry.htm). Yoo accomplishes this by using a standard inkjet printing system to print a cellular composition of viable cells on layers. At least two different types of viable mammalian cells printed on substrate can be selected to form a tissue or 3D structure. Several different types of cells can comprise the structure, and in some studies one of the cell types used has been a stem cell. Yoo claims the patent-pending printer can “make” anything of cellular composition, whether it be skin, bone or nerve tissue.

The process is like that of conventional 3D image printers using several different colors of ink, just in this case using cells instead. The system can also print dyes to display aspects of the structure and illustrate growth factors. For further details, contact James Yoo.

Sources: News release and patent information.