Bioprinting Blog

Dear Bioenthusiasts and STEM Advocates, Thank you following us through our three year journey with Blogger! As we've grown from a small startup sponsored by the National Science Foundation to the established company with a wide range of industry partners. SE3D has a commitment to bringing quality content in a timely manner. We have decided to change our bi-monthly blog to a weekly blog with new content focused on bioprinting industry highlights, researcher spotlights, Women In STEM, and biomaterials. It is with this transition that we have decided to focus solely on updating our blog on our website . Thank you for all your support. Don't worry, all the old content on Blogger will remain but you can follow our new content  here . Thank you, Team SE3D

Spirulina is an organic superfood that eliminates diseases, reduces cholesterol, and energizes you. If losing weight or eating healthy is important to you, then spirulina is something you might want to look into. Spirulina was originally found and utilized by Aztecs in the 16th century and later rediscovered in Lake Texcoco by French researchers. It is high in protein, and carries many important antioxidants and vitamins, such as Vitamin B-12 and iron. Unlike many other superfoods, fresh spirulina is odorless and nearly tasteless, making it a great addition to almost any food. In a recent SE3D  experiment , spirulina was mixed with chocolate to create a superfood chocolate print that was indistinguishable from a normal print. Furthermore, it is extremely affordable to buy. Grown on a farm or taken from a lake, this algae is not in short supply. It has no harmful side-effects and is a natural appetite suppressant. Recently, Robert Henrikson opened the first spirulin...

Ear scaffold printed by r3bEL bioprinter Plastic widget printed by a typical 3D printer By Mayasari Lim, Ph.D. When the r3bEL from SE3D is on display at CES , NSTA or other educational events focused on STEM, the first impression is that it’s another 3D printer like those manufactured by MakerBot or Dremel . As you move in closer and notice that there is no spool for filament, one becomes a bit puzzled and asks the question, “Dr. Lim, this is a 3D printer right?” In some ways but its features and applications are very different than the 3D printers most educators are familiar with. While the r3bEL may have the basic physical structure and platform resembling a 3D printer, it has certain distinct features that cannot be produced in 3D printers typically found in schools. The r3bEL is actually classified as a “bioprinter” for the following; F ACT #1 – It does not print plastic! Most desktop 3D printers like MakerBot are based on fused deposition ...

Leading educational initiatives and innovation in science,  SE3D  Education has launched its 2017 Science Lab Innovators Program (SLIP). The  S LIP Program is comprised of select teachers in K-12 charter, public, and private schools, vocational training institutions, colleges and other related programs who are pioneering   bioscience-focused education through  innovative curriculum and lab programs. “It is our mission, with the support of the  National Science Foundation  (NSF), to stimulate interest in science through experiences that prepare and propel the next generation of biomedical scientists, engineers and innovators” stated Dr. Mayasari Lim, CEO at SE3D Education. “The Science Lab Innovators Program (SLIP) is our way of accentuating the S cience  in STEM by bringing together talented educators, initiatives and ingenuity to pursue that mission. We are very excited to offer this program for 2017” Participants in the SLIP program wi...

Everyday proteins - this is Aquaporin Did you know that our kidney processes over 100 litres of water everyday? Under normal cell functioning conditions, a typical cell membrane will not be able facilitate so much water through the cell. Cells in the kidney need a special transport protein called Aquaporin to facilitate rapid transport of water in and out of the cell so that the kidney can perform its function in water reabsorption. Fig 1. AQP-1 crystal structure from PDB:1IH5 Structure Aquaporin is a tetrameric protein that consists of four identical monomers. Each monomer has six transmembrane α-helices arranged in a right-handed bundle and orient themselves alongside the other monomers to form four water channels (Fig. 1). The 3D printed model is obtained from the Protein Data Bank (PDB ID: 1FQY) and can be downloaded from our Thingiverse page.  http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:720113 3D Models To highlight the uniqueness of this protein, downlo...

Everyday Proteins -  Let's take a closer look at insulin In our last blog, we learned how to to download a protein PDB file and convert it into a STL format suitable for 3D printing. Now here is your chance to start exploring the wonderful world of proteins. Let us print our first everyday protein - Insulin. INSULIN An essential hormone in our body that regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism. Insulin is produced by cells in the pancreas called beta cells and is regulated in our body to ensure a balanced glucose levels. Too high or too low levels of glucose in our body can result in conditions known as hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.  Steps: (1) Go to the protein database website (www.pdb.org) (2) Search for 1TRZ (3) Download the PDB file and follow steps from the previous tutorial (4) Print your first insulin molecule and let's start exploring this fascinating molecule together 3D Printed View Here is a 3D printed insulin molecule and pictures from front...