The Physicist Organization Network reported on the 7th that researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada have developed a hand-held portable 3D skin printer that can print multiple layers of skin tissue to cover and heal deep wounds. This is the first device that can form, accumulate, and solidify skin tissue in place in two minutes or less, and is a new breakthrough in bioprinting technology.
Deep epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue can be severely damaged. The currently preferred method of treatment is layer thickness skin grafting, where healthy donor skin is grafted onto the epidermis and part of the dermis. Performing a layered thickness graft on a large wound requires all three layers of tissue from a healthy donor's skin so that there are few qualified skin donors. Defective skin donors can make the wound area not completely covered, resulting in poor healing.
Although scientists have developed a large number of tissue engineered skin substitutes, they have not been widely used clinically. At present, most 3D bioprinters are bulky, slow, expensive, and most importantly not suitable for clinical applications. The research team believes that the in-situ skin printer they invented is a platform technology that can overcome these obstacles while improving the skin healing process.
Reported that this handheld skin printer resembles a white tape dispenser, "bio-ink" consists of protein-based biomaterials, including the most abundant collagen in the dermis, protein fibers involved in wound healing, etc. They can follow each "tape" extends. The device is only a shoe box size and weighs less than one kilogram. It also simplifies the use of traditional bioprinters and greatly reduces the amount of operational training required. Now, the research team plans to add some functions to the 3d printer, including expanding the area that can cover the wound. They hope to conduct more human clinical trials in order to eventually revolutionize burn treatment.
