Beyond 3D Factory

3D bioprinting is a technology that combines 3D printing with many types of biomaterials and cells (called bioinks). There are several 3D printers in the 3D bioprinting facility that are able to deposit bioink to create a three-dimensional structure from a digital 3D image. The digital images are drawn according to the specific design to be made, but medical images (CT, PET, NMR, etc.) can also be used to reconstruct custom physiological structures or replicate an existing structure using a 3D scanner. The facility also contains the necessary instrumentation for biomechanical, biochemical, and morphological characterization of the printed structures. 3D Bioprinting begins with a model of a structure, which is recreated layer by layer from a Bioink or mixed with living cells. In the 3D bioprinting facility, it is possible to replicate parts that mimic natural tissues, bones and blood vessels (controlling the deposition of different types of cells and biological matrix) useful for testing therapies or conducting biomedical investigations. It is possible to print media, prostheses and implants for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine or to fabricate organ-on-chip and microfluidic systems for rapid screening of drugs and therapies. With 3D bioprinting it is possible to make customized medical devices such as catheters, biliary and vascular stents tailored to the patient's anatomy. Tablets or patches can be printed to control drug release rates allowing "drug customization" by tailoring dosages to the therapeutic treatment to better address the patient's specific needs by combining multiple active components into a single dose in solid form.