How far can we push 3D manufacturing parameters in bioprinting cartilage regeneration?
What is bioprinting?
Using a 3D printer with materials that replicate viable living cells. Machines building body pieces.
Benefits
3D printing can potentially benefit plastic and reconstructive surgeris by fabricating patient-specific tissue replacements with tissuelike functions and mechanical properties for example nasal reconstruction. The nose is the most identifiable feature that defins the human face. Deformities caused by trauna, cancer surgery and malformations can have adverse physical and psychological effects on patients.
Gold standard
The current gold standard for nasal reconstruction after rhinectomy or severe trauma includes transposition of autologous cartilage grafts in conjunction with coverage using an autologous skin flap. Harvesting autologous cartilage requires a major additional procedure that may create donor site morbidity. Major nasal reconstruction also requires sculpting autologoua cartilage to form a cartilage framework, which is complex, highly skilledmanding and very time consuming.
A Stem Cell story
What's next?
Dr Jing hopes to address some of those challenges and help bring new treatments to patients. Regenerative medicine is a field trying to restore and replace lost human functions by making human tissues using human cells and biomaterials. It's a fascinating field with many challenges.
Jing Yang
Jing is an Assistant Professor of Materials, Mechanical Enigneering, and Manufacturing in the School of Pharmacy. His research interests focus primarily on biomaterials and 3D bioprinting for regenerative devices and medicines.
Jing was also recently awarded a Nottingham Research Fellowship to start his independent research which will be looking to manufacture human tissue using 3D pritning.
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