Skip to main content

Amazing 'mini livers' created with 3D PRINTER could lead to human-sized organs for transplant patients



Scientists working towards developing laboratory-grown livers for transplant have managed to create mini versions of the organ using a 3D printer.

Just half a millimetre deep and four millimetres wide, the tiny livers are capable of performing many critical functions of the real thing; including producing proteins responsible for ferrying hormones, salt and drugs around the body.


California-based bio-printing pioneers Organovo created the mini organs by using the machine to build up around 20 layers of liver cells - along with cells from the lining of blood vessels to nourish the liver cells with nutrients and oxygen.



Multi-cellular: Scientists at Organovo, in San Diego, California, used bio-printing to build up layers of the cells that make up the liver in a lab

The crucial addition of blood vessel cells means the 3D, multi-cellular tissue can survive for five days or more.


More...
Britain's first bionic boy: Patrick, 16, overjoyed as he gets robotic hand so advanced it can be controlled via smartphone app
Beat the bookies by training your brain to be as accurate as a computer: Experts say humans CAN predict sports results

This is in contrast to 2D cultures, based on single or double layers of cells, which only last two days and don't have the extent of functions as Organovo's new mini-livers.


Detoxification: The mini-livers are capable of performing many of the vital functions of the real thing, including producing key proteins and cholesterol

Ultimately Organovo is working towards developing human-sized versions suitable for transplant.

Its mini-livers are capable of producing the key protein albumin as well as cholesterol and crucial detoxification enzymes - cytochrome P450s - that metabolise drugs in the liver, a report on newscientist.com said.

The realistic structure and function of the mini organs - combined of layers of hepatocytes and stellate cells - has positive implications for research in that they can infected with a disease to observe its progress, or treated with a drug to monitor its impact.

The liver is responsible for filtering the blood, metabolising and transporting drugs, and producing an array of proteins that are vital to homeostasis.

A number of genetic disorders are linked to the reduction of absence of proteins that would usually be produced by the liver.

Now researchers at the San Diego laboratory will be working on printing larger branched networks of blood vessels that could nourish a human-sized version of the structure.

The firm unveiled the mini-livers at the Experimental Biology conference in Boston this week.

Organovo has pioneered the bio-printing, which creates living human tissues that mimic the form and function of native tissues.


The machine works by using two print heads; one of which lays down a scaffold, while the other places human cells into the shape of the organ that is being formed.

In the case of the mini-livers, the cells used come from spare tissue removed in operations and biopsies.
HOW DOES 3D PRINTING WORK?


3D printers allow objects of any shape to be created from just a digital file.


They work in an extremely simple way, by building up a 3D object from layers of material.


Like a traditional inkjet printer, material, usually plastic, is laid down on a base.


Further layers are simply printed on top, gradually revealing a 3D object.


The technology is used in a huge range of industries from construction to aerospace.


Shoes, jewellery and even dresses have been created, with designs often sold online.
Many believe it could even lead to 'mini factories' for living rooms allowing consumers to print anything they want - from a bracelet to a replacement part for a broken household appliance.

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o