Medicinal BioPrinting by Alex Avramidis

While searching for Bio Engineers and their research on Bio Printing, i was unable to access the current research these Scientists are working on at StanFord since it is confidential material. On the other hand, i did manage to find out that a tiny human liver was printed and it was function-able to an extend of 40 days. Normally Liver cells live up too 200 days since it is the only regenerative organ in the Human body. So to an extend of 200 days the liver cells die and new ones are formed. Unfortunately for this tiny printed liver, the cells were unable to live to their full extend due to unknown factors.  Scientists are still working on perfecting this 3D printed liver which should be released sometime in 2014!  So how did Bio Engineers print this liver? Basically the Scientists at San Diego based medical research company “Organovo” used a 3D Printer that builds up 20 layers of Hepatocytes cells to carry on liver functions, endothelial cells which give the liver architectural support and finally it builds cells to form blood vessels that supply liver cells with oxygen and nutrients. Click the highlighted link on how the liver is made using a 3D Printer! —–>   The BioPrinting Process    <——