In the early days at Cornell, Professor Larry Bonassar and his team created a method for 3D printing materials that could carry living cells. This material, when printed correctly, was alive. This innovation has led to groundbreaking developments in biomedical research focused mainly on 3D printing for over two decades.
Initially, the Bonassar group printed avascular tissues like cartilage. A significant achievement was the 3D printing of human ears in 2017, made purely of cartilage. Such advances in 3D printing have been recognized as some of the greatest engineering innovations of the 21st century. These technologies span diverse fields from biomedicine to architecture.
Following their success with ears, the group has aimed to print more complex cartilage, such as intervertebral discs in the spine. The ultimate goal is to replace human cartilage damaged by disease or injury with 3D printed implants. Bonassar anticipates clinical trials for these living 3D printed parts soon.
To advance the technology, the Bonassar group is working on a self-monitoring tissue printer. This innovative printer can assess the material as it’s deposited, ensuring quality and precision in printing living cells.
Quality control remains paramount in 3D printing. Atieh Moridi, an assistant professor, uses the Cornell High-Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) to monitor 3D printing of metals. With this, she can observe the fabrication process intricately and pinpoint defects as they occur. Moridi’s research aims to simplify this monitoring process, making it accessible for manufacturers. She envisions a system where synchrotron imaging and acoustic emission sensors work in tandem to detect manufacturing errors.
Cold-spray printing is another area Moridi explores. This technique, which involves kinetic rather than thermal energy, can produce porous structures. Such porous structures, particularly those made of titanium alloy, have potential applications in biomedicine as implants that can integrate with natural bone growth.
In the construction domain, scaling up 3D printing poses challenges. Sriramya Duddukuri Nair, focusing on cementitious materials, sees potential in 3D printing for revolutionizing construction techniques. Traditional construction processes use wooden frameworks, which are restrictive and often wasteful. 3D printing, however, offers flexibility in design and can improve construction efficiency. One significant challenge is developing an extruder head that can print with steel-fiber-reinforced concrete. If successful, the future might see autonomous robotic 3D printers in construction, making jobs safer and potentially higher paying.
Looking Ahead
The next big thing for 3D tissue printing, according to Bonassar, is vasculated tissues like kidneys, livers, or brains. These developments could synergize with cell-based therapies, allowing precise placements of cells in the human body using 3D printing.
As for larger structures, Moridi suggests a reimagining. Structures like bridges might not need to be solid; with 3D printing, more efficient and sustainable designs could be realized.
In essence, the possibilities with 3D printing seem endless, and we’re only just beginning to uncover its potential.