Among the many marvels happening in modern medical research is the addition of additive technologies. Doctors have been particularly keen on developing orthopaedic solutions. Why orthopaedics in particular? Because printing and restoring bones, sinew or bone-like materials is now possible. While 3D printers have been commonplace in surgical research, 3D bio pens are a new milestone.
Australia’s ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science is reporting that the 3D printing pens can successfully repair bones afflicted with osteoarthritis. While in this case the test subjects were sheep, human trials may not be that far off. The results have been promising during the multiple tests conducted on osteoarthritic animals.
During surgeries, the surgeon wields the pen like they would a scalpel. The biopen secretes a bioink with cells inside it into the cavities of the bones repairing them. The ink protects the cells during the operation and helps them integrate into the joints.
Peter Choong from St Vincent’s Hospital was the orthopaedic surgeon who created the original pen. The final concept was retooled by Centre of Excellence. Since the researchers derived the cells from the patient, the body is not likely to reject them. This means that there is no need for immunosuppressive drugs.
Researchers have been using 3D pens for bioprinting for quite some time. The same team of Australian researchers experimented with stem cell printing. The experiment entailed using the 3D pen to fill in wounded areas with stem cells. This allowed the researchers to implant functional cells that could integrate into the bodily structure with precise detail.
The implications for the research into these tools are immense. They could easily function as very manoeuvrable surgical instruments. The other advantage is that they can integrate the patient’s biology into their own processes.
The whole study is available for purchase here.
Miongoni mwa maajabu mengi yanayotokea katika utafiti wa kisasa wa kitiba ni kuongezwa kwa teknolojia za nyongeza. Madaktari wamekuwa na hamu hasa ya kutengeneza suluhisho za mifupa. Kwa nini hasa waganga wa mifupa? Kwa sababu sasa inawezekana kuchapisha na kurekebisha mifupa, mishipa, au vitu vinavyofanana na mifupa. Ingawa printer za 3D zimekuwa za kawaida katika utafiti wa upasuaji, kalamu za 3D za bio ni hatua mpya. Kituo cha Ubora cha Australia cha Sayansi ya Electromaterials (ARC) kinaripoti kuwa kalamu za uchapishaji wa 3D zinaweza kurekebisha mifupa inayosumbuliwa na ugonjwa wa osteoarthritis. Ingawa katika kisa hiki watu waliojaribiwa walikuwa kondoo, huenda majaribio ya wanadamu hayakuwa mbali sana. Matokeo yamekuwa yenye kuahidi wakati wa majaribio mengi yaliyofanywa kwenye wanyama wenye ugonjwa wa osteoarthritis. Wakati wa upasuaji, daktari-mpasuaji hutumia kalamu kama vile angetumia kisu. Biopen huondoa bioink yenye chembe ndani yake ndani ya mashimo ya mifupa kuyarekebisha. Wino huo hulinda chembe hizo wakati wa upasuaji na kuisaidia ziingie katika viungo. Peter Choong kutoka Hospitali ya St Vincent alikuwa daktari wa upasuaji wa mifupa ambaye aliunda kalamu ya awali. Dhana ya mwisho ilibadilishwa na Kituo cha Ubora. Kwa kuwa watafiti walichukua chembe hizo kutoka kwa mgonjwa, haiwezekani mwili uzikataa. Hii inamaanisha kwamba hakuna haja ya dawa za kuzuia kinga. Watafiti wamekuwa wakitumia kalamu za 3D kwa kuchapisha kwa muda mrefu. Timu hiyohiyo ya watafiti wa Australia ilifanya majaribio ya kuchapisha chembe za msingi. Utafiti huo ulihusisha kutumia kalamu ya 3D kujaza maeneo yaliyojeruhiwa kwa chembe za msingi. Hii iliwawezesha watafiti kupandikiza chembe zinazofanya kazi ambazo zingeweza kuunganishwa katika muundo wa mwili kwa undani. Matokeo ya utafiti juu ya zana hizi ni makubwa. Zingeweza kutumika kwa urahisi kama vyombo vya upasuaji vyenye uwezo mkubwa wa kuendesha. Faida nyingine ni kwamba wanaweza kuunganisha biolojia ya mgonjwa katika michakato yao wenyewe. Utafiti wote unapatikana kwa ajili ya ununuzi hapa.