In recent years, 3D printing technology in the application of cell print caused the industry of great interest, the existing successful cases including artery and kidney print. Recently, the Scottish scientists developed using the human body cell print artificial liver organization technology.
The study found that in response to physiologic stronger 3D culture grow up cells and 2D culture cells in different performance, and the current pharmaceutical industry USES more is 2D technology. Edinburgh heriot-watt university researchers developed based on valve cells printing process, can produce specific cell types, capacity is only 2 nl or every drop less than 5 cells. 3D printing artificial liver organization for pharmaceutical industry great significance, because it can make the human body's response to medications simulation more lifelike, help to choose safe and effective drugs.
The technology of face a big challenge is to develop more control and more fine print nozzle, in order to effectively protect the viability of the cells and tissues. More recently, researchers have developed based on valve double nozzle printer for printing quality cells, including printing first used for tissue regeneration of embryonic stem cells.
Will the doctor is the Edinburgh heriot-watt university investment of 100000 euros in charge of the project team. They and midlothian Roslin cells in close cooperation of the laboratory, the laboratory and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology organization cooperation and jointly promote the commercialization of the product stem cells, and their goal is to create small human liver tissue.
At present, drug test need a lot of experimental animals, it is not ideal, because the cost is very high, but also was not accurate enough, can't truly reflect the drugs to the influence of human metabolism and toxicity.
The researchers hope artificial liver can replace animal experiment, let pharmaceutical companies using the technology to test new drugs, get better test results, but also in the clinical trials drastically reduce the cost.
Dr. Will said: "breakthrough new drugs from development to come onto the market need 10 to 15 years and more than $1 billion investment. 3D printing human organs can shorten the time to 10 years the following, and the cost is only half of the original. All drugs all need for liver toxicity test, so the technology can benefit all drugs."
Artificial liver research difficulties, because it contains many different cell types and complex vascular structure. The researchers wanted to use 3D printing technology produce structure relatively simple 1 mm mini liver and all kinds of stem cells. They believe that a available the birth of organs probably still need two or three years.
This research project at present got Scottish university physical union (SUPA) INSPIRE project funding. (Gold Printing Group) |
