February 10th, 2006
On Inkjet Bioprinting
ABC News catches up with research and development of inkjet technology for tissue engineering: "The promise of tissue engineering and the promise of 'organ printing' is very clear: We want to print living, three-dimensional human organs. That's our goal, and that's our mission. ... The concept behind organ printing is one that's been used in the manufacturing world for years, 'rapid prototyping.' ... Rapid prototyping is nothing more than layer-by-layer deposition of any materials. What is new is that instead of ceramic, instead of polymer, instead of some other nonorganic stuff, we use living tissue and living cells." The technology is in its very earliest stages - a long way to go yet, but it's most promising.