Advancements in laser technology are accelerating progress in 3D bioprinting of organs, a process that has the potential to help meet a growing worldwide demand for organ transplants.
Recent advancements in laser technology are leading to groundbreaking developments in the medical field, from improved treatment of cardiovascular diseases to higher-precision manufacturing of medical devices.
Improvements in the speed and accuracy of laser technology are also at the root of the latest advancements in 3D bioprinting, setting the stage for rapid progress toward the creation of 3D-printed organs for transplantation. In the face of a growing organ donor shortage, laser-based bioprinting has the potential to help medical researchers meet the increasing worldwide demand for organ transplants.
The role of lasers in 3D-printing organs
Bioprinting is the process of precisely layering biomaterials, also known as bioinks, to form three-dimensional structures, from biological tissues to larger-scale organs. While bio-printed tissues are currently being used for medical research like drug testing, biotech firms are pushing the technology further, toward the development of full-sized 3D-printed organs for transplant.
Laser-based bioprinting is a cutting-edge technology that is helping to speed up this pursuit. According to Vidmantas Šakalys, CEO of Vital3D Technologies, a biotech company that specializes in 3D bioprinting solutions, the primary benefit of using lasers in bioprinting is their ability to enhance the speed and precision of the process.
“Using lasers in the bioprinting process allows for more precise control over the placement of cells and biomaterials, at the microscale level,” Šakalys says. “Laser-based methods can be made to be relatively fast and precise, compared to other bioprinting techniques. This is important for large-scale tissue fabrication, where speed is a key factor.
