In a new breakthrough for bioengineered 3D printing, a team from the Scottish-based 
Dr. Will Shu (left) / Stem cell cultures (right)
Scottish University Creates Bioprinter for 3D Printing Stem Cells
Dr. Shu is describing a system that is able to bioprint these sensitive cell cultures without destroying their biological function to create different cell types. By utilizing this new technology, the engineering team hopes to use these bioprinted cells to test drug effects on human parts such as the liver, heart, and brain, all which are cells that can be engineered with these 3D printed stem cells. This is also great news for lab animals as well, who would no longer be needed for potentially harmful drug testing once these human-based stem cells replace them.
“The ability to bioprint stem cells while either maintaining their pluripotency, their ability to develop into all types of cells in the body, or indeed directing their differentiation into specific cell types, will pave the way for producing organoids, or tissues on demand, from patient specific cells,” Dr. Shu added.
The Scottish University’s engineering study is a major breakthrough for the bioengineering world, as well as the animal rights and pharmaceutical drug organizations as well. Dr. Shu and his team’s work to manufacture a bioprinter gentle enough to safely 3D print human stem cells have already shown to be beneficial for pharmaceuticals and animals, who knows what else the capability to 3D print with stem cells might bring?
