Page 8-9 - MARCH13

Say What?

3D-printed meat products might

be headed our way?

Page 8

Page 9

“3D bioprinting” is an emerging type of tech-

nology that allows for artificial cellular recon-

struction. At this point, you’re probably taken

aback…saywhat?! That sounds like some large-

ly futuristic technology, the likes of which you

might find in use by aliens, right? Think again.

3D bioprinting is already here and is being

developed and refined even as we speak. You

could say that we’ve moved one step closer to-

ward a form of “replicator” technology, similar

towhatwas featuredintheSci-fiseries, StarTrek.

How is this possible, you ask? Well, we already

know what 3D printers are capable of doing;

they can be used to create nearly anything you

can think of—from medical implants to solid

mechanical objects—the possibilities are end-

less. However, these are inanimate objects

constructed through additive processes, and

are definitely not living tissue. So the question

is, how do you build artificial cellular masses?

In a process called “computerized adaptive

manufacturing”, companies like Organovo are

spearheading brave new approaches to physi-

cally create living cells. In essence, computers

and software are used to quantify the data need-

ed to process construction from raw materials.

Think about it, your cells are composed of base

elements like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, ni-

trogen, etc. Given this reality, doesn’t it make

perfect sense that machines might be able to

construct cellular tissues from readily available

elements? All in all, this process isn’t much dif-

ferent fromother forms of 3Dprinting, although

one might argue that it is much more complex

and infinitely intricate. However, we mustn’t

exclude the possibility that cells might eventu-

ally be created using other materials. Take this

story for example: Lee Cronin of the University

of Glasgow used metal to create lifelike cells

instead of carbon! Needless to say, it’s unclear

just how far this type of

approach might take us

when combined with 3D

printing technology. One

might even argue that this

could very well lead to the

formation of an entirely

new field dealing with the

synthesis of organic struc-

tures with that of denser

materials and robotics.

Naturally, there are (cur-

rently) several direct appli-

cations for this technology,

each with its own focus,

problems to deal with and

specific gains. Most obvi-

ously, the ability to simply

“print” replicated meat

products like chicken or beef offers a great

opportunity for the entire human population

(likewise, this is good news for the animals that

would become dinner). There is a problem

with this though—it’s too expensive a pro-

cess at the moment to carry out on a massive

scale. However, as with all human en-

deavors, some individual or group will

eventually discover a way to rectify the

costs and make it somewhat economical.

Perhaps the most stunning use for the

technology is its potential for medical ap-

plications. Quite simply, 3D bioprinting

might soon allow for doctors to simply

“print out” new (perfectly matched and

compatible) organs and body parts. In

otherwords, new types of bio-compatible

skin grafts could emerge whichwould al-

low doctors to quickly (and seamlessly)

heal deep wounds, cuts and even burns.

Moreover, diseased or cancerous organs

could be easily replaced with new ones.

The possibilities are truly endless when

you think about it. If and when this tech-

nology becomes more “mainstream”,

affordable and accessible, it will likely

revolutionize modern medicine in ways

that we could never have even dreamed.

Additionally, being able to create artifi-

cial human tissues and organs leads to

the distinct possibility of newer, more ad-

vanced forms of medical research emerg-

ing (in the very near future). For instance,

just think of how such an approach could

revolutionize medical research for new

drugs. Similarly, imagine how much

easier it would be for scientists to devise

new approaches to treating specific dis-

eases (without the moral qualms associ-

atedwith human or animal clinical trials).

In the meantime, certification in 3D

printing technology is advisable to

those employed in the IT community

(as well as anyone else that’s both inter-

ested and capable of grasping its many

potential uses). Once 3D bioprinting

becomes widely known and available,

companies and businesses are going to

be rushing to find new ways to imple-

ment it. Given this distinct possibility,

it’s worth venturing a guess that some

of the best future careers are going to

be centered on all forms of 3D printing.