Since its inception in 1984, the ink-jet printers have entered the tens of thousands of households. People in their high-quality graphic output and a pleasure, scientists have sights on the broader space – in recent years, organ printing (OrganPrinting) technology tissues and organs has become a hot topic in the field of regeneration. The so-called organ printing, is the use of human biological organ printing technology, combined with a special bio-ink and bio-paper through the automatic control of the printer to biological tissues and organs of the basic biological factors combine effectively Cloning of a biologically active and normal function of tissues and organs, damage to the site to repair, alternative and renewable.
So far, this is still a distant relative. However, the technique is no longer a problem for us scientists painted a beautiful blueprint – in the future, the smoke is no longer a printer ink, but thousands of human cells per second. Researchers use a special bio-ink and bio-paper , the cell can be assembled for the three-dimensional human organs. The technology may sound like a fairy tale, in fact, the principle is not complicated. Bio-ink refers to the diameter of a few hundred mm cluster of cells, which can be as fluid as the flow of integration to form a layer films, such as circular shape; bio-paper refers to the cells and there is compatibility of the gel Substances. The researchers put the bio-ink is similar to a syringe into the device, and then the bio-ink to the output of bio-paper , so do it step by step printing to create three-dimensional structure. Once the basic organizational structure of the cells will be able to rely on self-assembly mechanism together. Japan Pusan University of Science and Technology Research Center, Professor Nakamura explained that the organ in the body of the cross on the surface, the distribution of a variety of cell glance. Printer that is the function of the cells in accordance with the original layout of the place in the cross-section of the copy . All cross-section together they formed a three-dimensional organ. As the ink-jet printers can select the appropriate color, the printer can also identify biological different types of cells. The principle is almost the same with the construction of skyscrapers. The difference is that steel, cement and glass, and other raw materials will be replaced by a variety of cells.
according to Nakamura's forecast, according to the human heart in this way to create at least 20 years. For those waiting for transplant patients, such a large-scale heart-made no doubt give them new hope. The use of the patient's own cells to create heart will go a long way off to reduce the risk of rejection.
At present, the village has succeeded in living cells using the print the approximate thickness of the skin cell wall. This should be largely attributed to his use of the 3D printer. This printer is a team in its three years of research and development results, the accuracy of up to one thousandth millimeters per minute print speed of up to 1.5 cm.
When talking about his research motivation, Nakamura said he would like to simply save more lives. Children's Heart as the main problem pediatrician, Nakamura quickly found that the existing drugs on the disease, many still do. In a meeting witnessed the life of the die of old age, Nakamura in the 36-year-old gave up that year to practice, turn into scientific research.
the first few years, in the village buried in the development of the experimental artificial heart, but eventually discovered that it can not be replaced from the donor heart in vivo. Soon, he will have an unexpected find: the ink-jet printer Mozhu mm diameter of about one per cent – similar to human cells. 2002, Nakamura bought a Epson printer, and for the allocation of a special cell ink , however, quickly plug nozzle, an assistant because he can not understand the idea and leave. After several efforts, Epson has finally agreed to a village in the experiment and promised to provide funding.
2003, Nakamura announced that the printer through the cell is still alive, he also became the use of ink-jet printers for the production of living cells in three-dimensional body of the world's people. In order to avoid the formation of three-dimensional cell in the body before the stem to die, researchers will be stored in the solution of sodium alginate, and then print in the calcium chloride raw materials for bio-paper. The technology for the future of stem cell research has opened up a new path for the production of healthy human organs laid the foundation. Nakamura said that despite the prospect is still unknown, but the technology is no doubt a huge role in the
