Bioprinting Blog

If you are a big fan of 3D printing, in particular its applications in the healthcare sector, then this is a conference you simply cannot miss. I met Dr. Jenny Chen, the founder and CEO of 3DHEALS, 3 years ago and I can still remember the resonating energy and vibe I got from her very first 3DHEALS event in downtown San Francisco. “What an amazing woman,” I thought, and “what a great initiative to have for this ecosystem!” In April 2017, Jenny organized the first ever 3DHEALS Global Conference and to date, it is the largest 3D printing for healthcare conference in the world. With her relentless effort and amazing team, Jenny was able to gather healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, developers, designers, regulatory experts, and investors all in one place. It was a huge success and I have no doubt that the 2018 conference will be another great one. Why should I attend? 1. Great talks by great speakers Last year’s panel of speakers blew me away and this year, I am ...

Originating from Ancient India, Henna (also known as Mehndi) is a body art where decorative designs are drawn onto a person’s body using a paste created from the leaves of a henna plant. It is commonly used as an accessory on special occasions such as weddings and holidays. Some of the holidays celebrated with henna are Purim,  Diwali , Passover, and various saints’ days.   Where can you get henna tattoos? Henna has historically been used in the Arabian Peninsula, Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Carthage, and North Africa. There are independent henna artists in the United States. However, hiring a henna artist can cost you anywhere upwards of $75/hr. How will 3D printing affect henna printing? The application of henna is very demanding. It is traditionally applied by highly skilled artists with a steady hand as once the material is applied, it will stain the skin almost immediately. The tattoos can last up to three weeks without fading. It ...

Dr. Luciano Paulino Silva is a senior researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa). He has 18 years of experience in scientific research and development and has published 130 scientific papers in the field of bioprospecting, nanobiotechnology, and beyond. Dr. Silva is also an alumni (affiliated) member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, editorial board member and reviewer of multiple scientific journals,  consultant for Brazilian governmental agencies and a full professor of Nanoscience and Nanobiotechnology, as well as Molecular Biology at the Institute of Biological Sciences of the University of Brasilia. Maya: Dr. Silva, please tell us about the research work at your laboratory. Silva: The Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology - LNANO at Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (Brasilia, DF, Brazil) focuses on research that utilizes nanotechnology to support or enhance biological systems. These projects include the characterization of b...

What is bioprinting and what is it used for? What is bioprinting? 3D bioprinting is a rapidly growing field, but what exactly does it entail? Much like a 3D printer, it leverages the concept of additive manufacturing to create layers of tissue-like structures often including cells. By using the same tools in 3D design and deposition, scientists can use bioprinting technology to create intricate and sophisticated structures needed to build tissues and organs. While the capabilities of bioprinting have not yet reached the level depicted by popular culture, we are on the brink of a bioprinting revolution and fully transplantable organs should be feasible within the next decade. The potential of 3D bioprinters is immeasurable, with promise in altering the very limits of the human lifespan itself. For those curious about this new technology, here are some basics of bioprinting. Technology: What is a bioprinter? A bioprinter works in a similar way as a 3D printer. It moves in the x, y a...

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...

With the growing popularity of food printers, there is no surprise that a market for 3D Chocolate Printers. We review the pros and cons of the different chocolate printers that are currently on the rise using our intimate knowledge of  chocolate printing . Model:  Chocabyte 3D printer Why you should buy it:  Great value for price Who it’s for:  Beginners with limited or no 3D printing knowledge Pitfalls:  Limited to only 500 units Price Point:  $99 The Chocabyte 3D printer, which debuted at CES 2014, is a marriage of handiwork between designer Quinn Kataitiana and Solid Idea. Limited to just 500 units, the Chocabyte printer is hand-crafted and priced at an astonishing $99. There are currently no other chocolate printers in the market at this price point. No CAD knowledge is necessary as Solid Idea offers a library of chocolate printing templates. Chocabyte runs on a syringe based system which can be purchased from the website. Th...

New Methods  A new method in bioprinting has been developed by an Oxford University spin-off company, OxSyBio, that will enable researchers to print and arrange cells in pre-determined 3D architectures. This novel method leverages the use of a lipid coating which encapsulates cells within protective nanolitre droplets during the printing process. Dr Alexander Graham, the lead author and scientist of OxSynBio, demonstrated the application of this technique with human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells and ovine mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). He was able to achieve high-resolution 3D geometries in the range of less than 200 microns while maintaining high cell viability. Learn more about this exciting work at their Nature publication –  Scientific Reports .  New Materials  In the most recent development, a clay-based bioink was developed and shown to provide improved drug delivery properties. A t...