3D Printing
An Indian startup has been able to produce a 3D printed human liver demonstrating that widespread organ transplantation using 3D printing technology may not far from realization.
Ever thought 3D printing organs was a sham? Actually, it’s a very real thing. 3D printed organs, though they’re far from mass production, are becoming ever more advanced. In fact, engineers have already been 3D printing body parts to create prosthetic limbs for years. 3D printing startups have especially looked into the potential of 3D printing human organs for the medical field. 3D printing human tissue, if the technology is perfected, can make liver transplants more safe and accessible. Check out how one Indian startup was able to produce a 3D printed liver and how printing organs with 3D printers may not be too far in the future.
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Pandorum’s Bioprinted Mini-Liver
Pandorum Technologies, a startup in India, made a recent breakthrough in 3D organ printing. They have bioprinted the world’s first artificial liver tissue. Although the organ is far too small to work as a functioning human liver, it works like the real thing. The astounding mini-liver can be used as a test platform for new drugs and vaccines. This makes lab-testing new drugs much safer for humans and animals. Additionally, these 3D printed livers will be an inexpensive alternative to such testing. Cutting down on medical research costs is not a small feat either. It could end up saving millions of dollars down the road.A related idea conceived earlier by an Indian firm was the digital simulation of a liver. The software would mimic a real human liver in response to drugs and toxins. This software is indeed fascinating, but the ability to test out real liver models is even better. Pandorum Technologies plans to expand from bioprinting just livers to lungs, kidneys, pancreas, and perhaps more. The company hopes to make 3D bioprinted organs ready on demand, a much quicker system than using real human donors to transplant an organ or test a new drug. Co-founder Arun Chandru shares, “If you look at the numbers, there is a need for 50,000 liver transplants, 200,000 kidney and 50,000 heart transplants in the country, out of which less than 1 per cent donors are available at present.” Clearly, 3D printing human organs would be a major help in satisfying this dearth. Pandorum predicts that the market for artificial organs will soar within only the next few years.
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