Bio printing

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Revision as of 20:09, 20 November 2012 by Gtk5020 (talk | contribs) (Applications (Interesting Articles)
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Brief Summary

Bio Printing is fairly new adaptation of 3D printing technology. Simply put, it uses a specialized "bio-ink", that is composed of living cells to create living tissue structures. This bio-ink is contained in ink cartridges similar to those in a regular ink jet printer. When an object is created with one of these machines, bio-ink is laid down, one drop at a time on special "bio-paper". This paper is usually made of a collagen gelatin and supports and hydrates the delicate cells as they are layered. When the object is completed the bio-paper melts away or gets removed, and the new tissue structure is created.


Recap:

  1. Bio Paper layer is laid down
  2. Bio ink droplets are placed on the bio-paper one at a time until a layer is created
  3. The next layer builds on top of this one, and so on until the object is completed
  4. The bio-paper is either removed or dissolves naturally and (viola!) a new tissue structure is created


A more detailed summary of this technology can be found here: http://www.explainingthefuture.com/bioprinting.html

Applications (Interesting Articles

Printed Meat

Just gonna say that I'm pretty sure I saw this in a cartoon once, and it ended like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJa5m-vCarg (props to anyone who thought that was funny)

But all joking aside, this is a pretty cool article and a pretty cool idea so I thought I'd share:

http://en.mercopress.com/2012/08/17/us-company-wants-to-make-3d-bio-ink-printed-meat-for-human-consumption