Would You Like A Hand With That?

We often talk about the exciting world of bioprinting, or 3D printing with living cells. For instance, We believe that the first human implantation of a bioprinted heart will happen within the decade.

Bioprinting has applications beyond full organ replacement, however. Recently, scientists at Columbia university announced that they successfully bioprinted a ‘glove’ made from human skin tissue. This experimental whole hand skin graft exhibited the malleability, strength, and vascularity (blood flow) of human skin.

Bioprinted "Glove" Made From Human Skin Cells

Source: NIH, Alberto Pappalardo and Hasan Erbil Abaci, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Moreover, a related animal study saw mice who received a bioprinted skin graft regain full limb functionality in four weeks. Fascinating stuff.

Over time, these bioprinted grafts will replace traditional skin grafts harvested from the patients’ own body. They will be bioprinted starting with the patients’ own DNA, and therefore will bypass the rejection issues of donor tissue (organ transplant recipients often must supress their immune system for the rest of their lives, with significant adverse side effects).

Bioprinted skin grafts will also need fewer sutures (stitches) since they will come in one piece and will be printed in the exact shape needed to meet the patient’s needs.

The current wave of innovation in life sciences can often feel like science fiction, except without the fiction part. Luke Skywalker’s bionic hand – with synthetic skin – or the Terminator’s human-like skin were exotic special effects in movies a few decades ago.

Technologies being developed today may soon make these outlandish fictions – or even better versions – a reality of everyday life.