DocWire News Editors

DocwireNews

A group of researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder have created a method of 3D printing that can create artificial blood vessel-like structures. This research, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-06685-1#article-info">Nature Communications</a>, provides evidence that 3D printing could engineer artery and tissue replacements for hardened blood vessels tethered to cardiovascular disease.Integrating an oxygen inhibition layer between cured polymer structures to limit curing thickness during the manufacturing process, the team was able to imitate the highly structured and flexible geometry of blood vessels. &ldquo;Oxygen is usually a bad thing in that it causes incomplete curing,&rdquo; said Yonghui Ding, Postdoctoral researcher in Mechanical Engineering and the lead author of the study. &ldquo;We utilize a layer that allows a fixed rate of oxygen permeation. By keeping tight control over oxygen migration and its subsequent light exposure, the researchers have the freedom to control which areas of an object are solidified to be harder or softer&mdash;all while keeping the overall geometry the same.&rdquo;<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4801660" src="https://mumcdnstorage.blob.core.windows.net/dwnews/2018/11/oxygen.png" alt="3d printed" width="1020" height="315">Impressively, the researchers used a 3D printer built with parts purchased on eBay for a total cost of $500 to create these intricate microscopic structures.&ldquo;The idea was to add independent mechanical properties to 3D structures that can mimic the body&rsquo;s natural tissue,&rdquo; said Xiaobo Yin, Associate Professor in CU Boulder&rsquo;s Department of Mechanical Engineering and senior author of the study. This technology allows us to create microstructures that can be customized for disease models.&rdquo;To test their system, the researchers printed three versions of the structure with a top beam accompanied by two support rods. All three structures were identical in material, shape, and size, differing only by rigidity. The two rods used in each system were either both soft, one soft one hard, or both hard. The researchers found that the harder rods supported the top beam, while the less rigid ones resulted in collapse of the beam.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4801658" src="https://mumcdnstorage.blob.core.windows.net/dwnews/2018/11/rods.png" alt="3d printed" width="673" height="197">The CU Boulder researchers believe that this method is &ldquo;opening a new avenue towards 3D in vitro tissue fabrication.&rdquo; They hope that their findings will increase release of personalized treatments for those suffering from cardiovascular disease and hypertension.An article on CU Boulder&rsquo;s site says that the researchers repeated this 3D printing trial with a small Chinese warrior figure, using this difference in rigidness, &ldquo;so that the outer layers remained hard while the interior remained soft, leaving the warrior with a tough exterior and a tender heart.&rdquo;<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4801659" src="https://mumcdnstorage.blob.core.windows.net/dwnews/2018/11/figure.png" alt="3d printed" width="667" height="275">The printer the researchers constructed currently is capable of handling biomaterials down to 10 microns, which is roughly 10% of a human hair&rsquo;s width. The team is hopeful that future studies will allow the printers capacities to improve even further. &ldquo;The challenge is to create an even finer scale for the chemical reactions,&rdquo; said Yin. &ldquo;But we see tremendous opportunity ahead for this technology and the potential for artificial tissue fabrication.&rdquo;Additional authors of the study include Yao Zhai, Hang Yin, and Mechanical Engineering Professor Wei Tan. This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health as well as the National Science Foundation.Sources: <a href="https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/cu-boulder-researchers-develop-3d-printing-technique-to-create-hardened-artificial-blood-vessels-142273/">3DPrintingIndustry</a>, <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/today/2018/10/22/3d-bioprinting-technique-could-create-artificial-blood-vessels-organ-tissue">Colorado</a>

Jordana Jampel

Mechanism of Positive Association Between Parkinson’s Disease and Melanoma Revealed in New Research

Melanoma

Hatem Soliman, MD

Using Dendritic Cell Vaccines to Boost Neoadjuvant Therapy in HER2+ Breast Cancer

HER2 Breast Cancer

Kathleen Liu, MD

Joel M. Topf, MD, FACP

AKI Approaches and ASN Kidney Health Guidance

NKF Spring Clinical Meetings 2025

Latest News

CU Boulder Scientists Create 3D-Printing Technique to Make Blood Vessels

Future of Medicine

A group of researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder have created a method of 3D printing that can create artificial blood vessel-like structures. This research, ...

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertising

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Contribute

Career Center

MashupMD

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

GU Oncology Now

Urban Health Today

Bile Duct Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Gastric Cancer

GEP-NETs

GIST

Liver Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

GI Oncology Now

Anemia

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Essential Thrombocythemia

Hemophilia

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polycythemia Vera

Pulmonary Embolism

Sickle Cell Disease

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombophilia

Thrombosis

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Venous Thromboembolism

von Willebrand Disease

Heme Today

Acute Kidney Injury

ADPKD

Anemia and Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Hypertension

End-Stage Renal Disease

Gout

Hyperkalemia

IgAN

Kidney Transplantation

Metabolic Acidosis

Nephrology Times

HR Breast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Genetics & Breast Cancer

Breast Cancers Today

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Interventional Cardiology

Lipid Management

Practice Tips With Dr. Lichaa

Preventive Cardiology

Stroke

Cardiology

Breast Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Skin Cancer

Oncology

Sleep

Urology

Diabetes

Ophthalmology

— Demodex Blepharitis

Neurology

Rheumatology

Gastroenterology

Pulmonology

Infectious Diseases

— HIV

Health and Wellness

Lupus

Orthopedics

Pharmacology

Career News

More

Conferences

CardioNerds

The Sleep Source With Dr. Morse

Rheumatology Rounds With Dr. Maheswaranathan

Partners

Expert Interviews

Subscribe