University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers—including Ali Tamayol and Prahalada Rao—are working on a technology that could enable 3D printing of tissue that could aid the recovery of shark bite survivors.
“Today, if you lose a leg, shatter a knee or break a bone, we can print custom replacement implants,” said Rao, assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering. “But, to replace functional tissue around those structures is still something that only happens on Star Trek.
“I do think it’s an achievable process. It is just going to take time.”
Tamayol, an assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering, is researching ways to craft bio-inks—3-D-printed mixtures of cells and gel that can be used to create regenerative tissue implants.
Working with researchers at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital, Tamayol was part of a team that recently showed how bio-ink infused with platelet-rich plasma can accelerate healing of small scratches.
“The ultimate goal is to generate functional tissue that can be implanted to replace or repair damaged tissues,” said Tamayol. “While we have shown some progress, we still face a number of biological hurdles in the field of tissue engineering.”
Based on the pace of advancement within the industry, Tamayol and Rao estimate that engineered replacement tissues will be will become a reality within the next decade.
