By BANU PLUIE
3D Bio-Printing Project of Sabancı University
For the first time in the world, tissue structures were created by using self-supported live cells in a 3D bio-printer from medical images in the 3D Tissue and Organ Printing Project.
Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences? Manufacturing Systems Program professor Bahattin Koç and his stedents; Can Küçükgül, Saime Burçe Özler, Forough Hafezi printed artificial tissue construct at the Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM) using self-supported live cells in a 3D bio-printing system.
The 3D Tissue and Organ Printing Project team used live human dermal fibroblast cells as bio-ink to print a part of aortic tissue. Human blood vessel tissue consists of mainly three types of cells: fibroblast, endothelial and smooth muscle. Fibroblast cells are the main cells of connective tissues. They synthesize the extracellular matrix and collagen protein needed for tissues. Endothelium is the thin inner layer of cells of blood vessels. Smooth muscle cells are found in inner organs such as blood vessels, esophagus and intestines. The scientists continue their efforts to maturate the blood vessel tissue created by fibroblasts as well as endothelial and smooth muscle cells in a bioreactor.
