Submission + - 3D Printer Able to Produce Skin w/Hair Follicles and Sweat Glands (computerworld.com)
Lucas123 writes: A 3D printer developed by researchers at the University of Toronto is capable of using a patient's own cells to print skin. The technology could be used to treat burn victims and patients with other types of injuries, as well as to test pharmaceutical drugs. While still in pilot mode, the new PrintAlive Bioprinter is in the process of being commercialized by MaRS Innovations in collaboration with the Innovations and Partnerships Office (IPO) of the University of Toronto, whose labs have filed two patents on the device. The 3D skin printer works by placing the patient's cells along with other biomaterials into a micro-device, which then pushes them out through several channels. The biomaterials are then mixed, causing a chemical reaction that forms a "mosaic hydrogel", a sheet-like substance compatible with the growth of cells into living tissues. The hydrogel allows the various dermis cells to be seeded in precise and controlled patterns. The resulting thin film is then rolled up to crease thicker layers of tissue.