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Bio-Printers Are Churning Out Living Fixes To Broken SpinesWhat it is: In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the University of California at San Diego successfully bioprinted spinal implants to regenerate spinal cords in injured mice. Essentially, the team printed a 3D biomimetic hydrogel scaffolding, customized to a given rodent with spinal cord damage. They filled this scaffolding with neural progenitor cells (basically spinal cord stem cells), which facilitate axon (spinal cord cell) regeneration. After implanting the scaffold-neural cell matrix into the mice, the researchers observed axon regrowth around the implant. Eventually, the mice regained partial movement of their hind legs.
Why it's important: Bioengineers are using 3D printers and regenerative medicine to completely transform how we rehabilitate, cure and repair the human body. Current applications include replacing bones, augmenting dentistry, custom-fitting prosthetics, replacing organs and repairing nerves. While most bioprinting research is carried out in vitr...
