Researchers have invented 3D printer to heal wounds
Researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada have developed a handheld 3D skin printer, which can deposit flat layers of skin tissue to cover and heal deep wounds. The device forms tissue in situ, depositing and setting within short period. The handheld skin printer has a micro device that forms tissue sheets. Bio ink comprised of protein-based biomaterials like collagen and fibrin runs along the tissue sheets in vertical stripes. The solution applied to the skin can be called an innovative bio-plaster. The collagen included in its composition is the most abundant protein found in the dermis as an “ink”, and fibrin, another protein, is part of wound healing. Over time, the “native” skin adapts to the solution on their basis and tightens the wound much faster. Navid Hakimi, study lead author and PhD student, said in the statement, “Our skin printer promises to tailor tissues to specific patients and wound characteristics.” As opposed to other 3D printers, the device is compact enough to hold it in one hand and to operate it freely due to its small size and light weight. The researchers plan to add several capabilities to the printer, including expanding the size of the coverable wound areas, including the deepest wounds.
