Researchers at Duke University and Harvard Medical School have developed a proof-of-concept 3D printer that uses ultrasound to print biomaterials inside an organ, potentially eliminating the need for traditional surgery. The printer employs a focused ultrasound transducer to convert electrical energy into sound waves, allowing the creation of intricate structures layer by layer within tissues. Unlike many 3D printing technologies that utilize light to solidify ink on surfaces, this ultrasound printer can work deeper through opaque materials. The researchers successfully printed bone-shaped structures through pig skin and muscle, simulated bone reconstruction, treated atrial fibrillation by printing a patch on an ex vivo heart, and delivered chemotherapy through a pig liver.
The traditional limitations of bioprinting technologies involve the need for surgery for implantation after printing on surfaces. The ultrasound printer aims to overcome these challenges by allowing the creation of structures directly inside the tissue without the need to print and implant separately.
Junjie Yao, a bioengineer at Duke University, and Yu Shrike Zhang, co-primary investigator, developed this innovative technology. The printer’s use of ultrasound waves to convert sono-ink into three-dimensional structures within tissues marks a novel approach in the field of bioprinting. The researchers believe that the non-invasive nature of ultrasound technology, with minimal side effects, makes their approach innovative and unique.
This breakthrough could open new possibilities in the field of medical surgeries, enabling more minimally invasive procedures and expanding the potential applications of 3D printing in healthcare.
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