What is 3D Bioprinting and Why Have Researchers Used It To Create Eye Tissue?

Figure 1. (LINK) 3D Bioprinting Eye Tissue

3D bioprinting, invented with rudimentary tools in the 1980s, improved over time to now produce replicas of living cells through bioinks—an essential tool for bioprinting that comprises “natural or synthetic biomaterials that can be mixed with living cells.”; These replicated cells model the functions and structures of natural tissues in the human body. This technology allows for scientists to observe how the human body functions and successfully treat patients who have malfunctioning organs through transplantation (UPM Biomedicals).

To better understand blinding diseases—the detailed mechanisms—scientists from the National Eye Institute (NEI) developed eye tissue through 3D bioprinting and the analyses of patients’ stem cells. These researchers created an outer blood-retina barrier, which is an eye tissue that protects the retina’s light-sensing photoreceptors (Firtina). This development allows for NEI researchers to study degenerative retinal illnesses like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and research solutions to treat the infamously incurable retinal diseases.

Q&A

Hannah: What are the limitations of 3D bioprinting that are preventing us from mass producing various human organs or tissues and using them for transplants?

Answer: 3D bioprinting holds several disadvantages as researchers still try to discover ways to improve the invention. For one, 3D bioprinting may lack precision (“with regards to droplet size and droplet placement”). The invention also tends to require low viscosity bioink, an element that prevents the use of effectual bioinks.

Works Cited

Author links open overlay panelElliot S. Bishop a b, et al. “3-D Bioprinting Technologies in

Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine: Current and Future Trends.” Genes &

Diseases, Elsevier, 2 Nov. 2017,

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352304217300673#:~:text=Disadvan

tages%20include%20lack%20of%20precision,being%20used%20with%20this%20metho

d.

Firtina, Nergis. “3D-Bioprinted Eye Tissue Will Help Researchers Understand Blinding

Diseases.” Interesting Engineering, Interesting Engineering, 28 Dec. 2022,

https://interestingengineering.com/health/3d-bioprinted-eye-tissues-blinding-diseases.

“Researchers Use 3D Bioprinting to Create Eye Tissue.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 22 Dec.

2022, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/12/221222123058.htm.

“What Is 3D Bioprinting? How Does 3D Bioprinting Technology Work?” What Is 3D

Bioprinting? | 3D Bioprinting Technology | UPM Biomedicals,

https://www.upmbiomedicals.com/applications/for-life-science/what-is-3d-bioprinting/.