Harvard scientists have found a better way to print organs in 3D

The team managed to create heart tissue that could beat synchronously over a seven-day period. In a video demonstration, the team explained how she had created hundreds of thousands of stem cell derived building blocks. They then compacted the stem cells in a mold. Then they quickly modeled the sacrificial ink in the matrix with the help of integrated 3D printing. The sacrificial ink was then removed to reveal channels that could function as blood vessels. The open lumens in the blood vessel were lined with endothelial cells, to mimic reality more accurately.

The field of bio-printing or the use of 3D printers for organ and tissue engineering is still in its infancy. Unlike 3D printed bones or skin, 3D printing devices also require the replication of vast networks of vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to our organs. Scientists say the SWIFT method can work with any type of cell, including organoids, embryoid bodies and multicellular spheroids. Although the technology is still in its infancy, it could pave the way for lab-grown organs in the near future.