PORTABLE 3D SKIN PRINTER
Many times, we get involve in small accidents while playing or in some activities. These accidents give us wounds like bleeding, removal of skins and many more. We go to doctors, he gives us some creams to apply and medicines too. That creams and medicines helps us to recover that skins and get heal as soon as possible. It takes days to recover may be 2 days or 3 days and more in some severe cases.
Well for this the researchers of Toronto have developed a new device called as Portable 3D skin printer. This is not a normal 3D printer. This 3D skin printer is actually being use for medical purposes on patients. This device can cure skin wounds within minutes. Researchers have been developing this kind of printers over several years. The shape of this device is similar to tape dispenser. But instead of tape, it gives out a fresh new skin out. The device manufactures a new skin tissue immediately. This new tissue is made up of collagen, protein present in the dermis and fibrin required for healing skin. The device is filled up with the bio-ink. Bio-ink contains bio materials like collagen, most abundant protein found in the dermis and also the proteins which helps in wound healing. The printer also does away the work of washing and incubation stages. The printer comes with capabilities like expanding the size of coverable wound area.
Skin wound usually damage the skin layers called as epidermis, dermis and hypodermics. Today, the deep skin wounds are treated by using technique called as skin grafting. In skin grafting process, the skin is taken from the donor and apply on the victim’s wounds to cover the injured area. This process involves poor and slow healing of skin wounds. With the help of these 3D printer the slow process of healing can be fasten. 3D skin printers will break the barriers to improve skin healing. The research is still in early stages. It will be tested on animals first and then on humans. Many other 3D skin printers are bulky and also expensive while this 3D skin printer is light in weight (about 1 kilogram) and size of a small shoe box. This printer also eliminates the process of washing and incubation which is required by most of the other 3D skin printers available for medical purposes called as Bio printers. The researchers have published their papers in the journal Lab on a Chip.
Pic Courtesy: https://www.utoronto.ca/news/u-t-researchers-develop-portable-3d-skin-printer-repair-deep-wounds
Editor: Anuj Gupta