One of the countries that is investing the most in the development of 3D printing technology for medical purposes is Australia. You have proof of what I say in the recent announcement that they just made from the Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane) where they have literally taken over the construction of a space dedicated to the 'biofabrication' inside the hospital in his own city.
This new space can be used by all types of doctors and researchers who are interested in developing technology to model and print cartilage, bones or other types of human tissue. As a detail, tell you that this time we are not talking about a small space where to start in the matter, but that this new space it is planned to occupy two floors of the hospital at the same time that it will be equipped with the most advanced technology in fabric manufacturing.
Australia wants to position itself as a benchmark in the development of 3D printing of human tissues.
For now, as those responsible for this project assure, it is too early to be able to produce human tissues in 3D, although at the Queensland University of Technology they want to position themselves as a clear benchmark in the study and development of technologies With which machines will be created in the future capable of creating, initially, cartilage and bones, to later be even capable of manufacturing more complex organs.
As commented Mia woodruff, associate professor at the University:
Many of the implants that we are developing, we can implant them in a patient and as the tissue grows again, it is not rejected, the scaffold will be resorbed over time and the tissue will grow even more and, finally, the implant will be gone.
We don't always have to use metal implants, we can develop high specification composite materials that dissolve as the tissue heals.
We won't be able to 3D print an organ tomorrow, but what we can do is bring together researchers, doctors, patients, engineers, intellect, and industry partners so that we can develop new technologies at the level that is available. can translate to the clinic.