3D-printed, lifelike blood vessel network created

Los Angeles: Scientists have successfully 3D printed lifelike, functional blood vessel network, an advance that could pave the way for artificial organs and regenerative therapies.

The research, led by professor Shaochen Chen from the University of California San Diego in the US, addresses one of the biggest challenges in tissue engineering - creating lifelike tissues and organs with functioning networks of blood vessels that can transport blood, nutrients, waste and other biological materials.

Researchers 3D printed a vasculature network that can safely integrate with the body's network to circulate blood. These blood vessels branch out into many series of smaller vessels, similar to the blood vessel structures found in body.

The team developed an innovative bioprinting technology, using homemade 3D printers, to rapidly produce intricate 3D microstructures that mimic the sophisticated designs and functions of biological tissues.

Researchers first created a 3D model of the biological structure on a computer. The computer then transferred 2D snapshots of the model to millions of microscopic-sized mirrors, which are each digitally controlled to project patterns of UV light in the form of these snapshots.