3D Bioprinting

There are hundreds of people on organ transplant lists waiting for critical organs to save their lives. Unfortunately, the demand for organs does not meet the number of organ donors. What if this crisis could be resolved with new organs synthesized in vitro. This idea leads to the evolutionary concept of 3D Bioprinting.

3D Bioprinting is a mind-boggling technology that emerged in the 21st century. It is a branch of regenerative medicine currently under development. 3D bioprinting is a form of additive manufacturing that uses cells and other biocompatible materials to print living structures layer-by-layer, mimicking natural living systems. The technology uses a material known as bioink to create these biological structures. The technique is widely applicable in medicine and bioengineering, specifically on drug validations and organ transplantations.

The process has complex steps involved as it requires high precision.The critical steps in this technique can be summarised into:

• Pre-bioprinting involves the steps of 3D imaging and 3D modeling. 3D imaging is done to get the exact dimensions of the tissue. The technologies used are computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. In 3D modeling, A blueprint is generated using AutoCAD software.


• Bioprinting is the actual printing process wherein bioinks are prepared and are deposited layer by layer to print the tissue.


• Post-bioprinting is the mechanical and chemical stimulation of printed parts to create stable structures for the biological material.

Currently, this method has made it possible to create living tissue to substitute for a patient’s damaged tissue. As bioprinting evolves, it will become possible to use a patient’s cells to 3D print bone grafts and skin, organ patches, and even complete organ replacement in the future. For pharmaceutical development, 3D bioprinting offers a means of testing drugs faster, at a lower cost, and with better biological relevance to humans than animal testing. Bioprinting for cancer research is also an emerging direction. For pharmaceutical development, 3D bioprinting offers a means of testing drugs faster, at a lower cost, and with better biological relevance to humans than animal testing. 3D Bioprinting is a young and emerging field that will undoubtedly fascinate us in the coming years.