Solutions on Another Level: 3D Printing in Regenerative Medicine

Medical 3D printing—also known as additive manufacturing—is producing solutions in a whole new dimension. Turning blueprints into customized, effective, and durable products in record time, 3D-printing technology promises to revolutionize patient care layer by layer. Four recent studies explore some applications and the potential of this technology in regenerative medicine.

Ear to the Ground

A promising 3D-printed intervention for microtia

Microtia is one of the most common forms of congenital deformities of the ear. In recent research that should interest people with this condition, Korean scientists introduced and studied 3D-printed scaffolds designed to enhance both auricular tissue regeneration and mechanical stability. Their findings, reported in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, indicate a promising approach for improving outcomes for patients with microtia.

Gelling Together

A bioprinting hydrogel that accelerates wound healing

In China, scientists have developed a novel hydrogel for additive printing with considerable potential for future applications in tissue engineering. The hydrogel supports the 3D-fabrication of precise, robust scaffolds. What’s more, the hydrogel accelerated epidermal regeneration and expedited wound closure in rats, according to a study published in Biomacromolecules.

Moving the Needle

A comprehensive review of 3D-printed hollow microneedles

Thanks to 3D printing, hollow microneedles with high-resolution and micro and nanofeatures have become a transformative tool for drug delivery and other skin-based applications. A new review provides insight into the current status of these devices and a roadmap for developing them. Published in Molecular Pharmaceutics, this comprehensive review is a valuable resource for anyone interested in 3D printing for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

All in the Pot

A resin to ease and broaden medical 3D printing

One-pot 3D printing could make additive manufacturing easier. Researchers publishing in ACS Central Science have demonstrated a new resin that simultaneously creates solid objects and dissolvable structural supports, depending on what type of light the resin is exposed to. The approach could increase the applications for 3D-printed objects, including tissue engineering scaffolds.

View recent press release coverage surrounding this research.

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