3D bioprinting is one of the most exciting breakthroughs in healthcare. By using cells and soft, tissue-like hydrogel materials as "inks," scientists can directly print models that mimic real human tissue. This technology is set to revolutionize biomedical research and clinical treatments.
Professor Shery Huang and her team at the University of Cambridge are at the forefront of this innovation. They've created PrinterHM, a low-cost, open-source 3D bio-printer that costs less than £1000. Despite its affordable price, it features four independent printheads and can accept multiple inputs, including hand-drawn sketches. This means that researchers and clinicians can easily create 3D tissue models in a way that’s both user-friendly and sustainable. But that’s not all—Professor Huang's team has also developed the BioArm, affordable, deployable 3D bioprinter designed to be used in various settings, like cell culture hoods or hospitals. The BioArm demonstrated printing of core-shell cancer models, which were used for immune therapy screening. With following efforts in Replicam, we are trying to bring these advance biofabrication techniques and biomanufactured products to real world applications, leading to a future where engineered tissue models for personalized healthcare become widely accessible to the public.
