The Role of 3D Printing in Skin Tissue Engineering: A Report

This report delves into the application of 3D printing in the realm of skin tissue engineering. It discusses the development of 3D printers, specifically focusing on the use of bio-inks like collagen and fibrin for creating skin grafts. The report highlights the work of researchers, including their experiments on animal models and plans for human trials. It also explores the potential of handheld 3D printers for direct skin application and the use of patient-specific devices. The report references research conducted at the University of Toronto and the University of Minnesota, emphasizing the potential of 3D printing to revolutionize wound healing and medical device manufacturing. The report concludes with a look at the future of skin tissue engineering, emphasizing the advancements in bioprinting and the impact of this technology on healthcare.

Running head: ESSAY 0
MEDICAL ESSAY
AUGUST 2, 2019
STUDENT DETAILS:

ESSAY 1
The concept of 3D printing skin has been in development for the few years. In 2014, the
Canadian researchers had tested a device into the lab in Toronto. This device looks very little
like the dispenser for packaging tape. The researchers of University of Toronto made the 3D
printer with a size of shoebox, weighing less than 1 Kg (2.2 pounds). The printer distributes the
strip of “bio-ink” contained the biological material. The biological materials contain collagen
(abundant protein in dermis), and fibrin (the protein aimed at wound healings). The non-natural
skin’s strips may be placed upon the injured areas in direct manner. Firstly, this device is tested
on the pigs. Then, it will be moved to the human trials in upcoming periods. If the device works
on human being, it will require by the team to work carefully with the injury doctors for studying
the effective room workflows to make the system that fulfils the requirements in term of speed as
well as size. A handheld 3D skin printer may implement the skin layer’s tissue in direct way,
upon the patients for covering as well as healing the wounds (Pourchet, et. al, 2017).
Further, the skin of human being can be the upcoming canvas for the handheld 3D
printer. At the University of Minnesota, the researchers have utilised 3D printers for placing the
electronics on the skin of the people in straightway. The sample skin printers are already present.
The 3D printers are very useful for manufacturing the various medical devices, involving the
person with difficult geometry and characteristics to match the unique anatomy of patients. Other
devices named as ‘patient specific’ or ‘patients matched devices’, are made from the particular
imaging data of the patients. In this way, the researchers were capable to address the systems
operated by the printing skin upon the pre-clinical models. Subsequently, they are to going to
conduct clinical trials in the human being (Singh, Singh & Han, 2016).

ESSAY 2
References
Pourchet, L. J., Thepot, A., Albouy, M., Courtial, E. J., Boher, A., Blum, L. J., & Marquette, C.
A. (2017). Human skin 3D bioprinting using scaffold‐free approach. Advanced
healthcare materials, 6(4), 1601101
Singh, D., Singh, D., & Han, S. (2016). 3D printing of scaffold for cells delivery: Advances in
skin tissue engineering. Polymers, 8(1), 19