Scientists from the University of Toronto has developed a portable 3D printer skin which will help in the treatment of deep wounds. It is the first device capable of creating the fabric, to Deposit and to set in place for two minutes or less. The research conducted by the student Navid Hakimi under the leadership of Professor Axel Guenther, was published in the journal Lab on a Chip.
When forming a deep wound on the skin can be damaged all three layers of skin — epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. Currently, the preferred treatment is to take epidermodysplasia flap for skin transplantation when part of a healthy donor skin grafted onto the surface of the epidermis and portion of underlying dermis.
Skin grafting for large wounds requires an ample amount of healthy donor skin to cover all three layers, so it is rarely possible to carry out on the spot. A large part of the surface of the wound remains “uncovered” that leads to the best outcomes.
Although there are many skin substitutes, they are not yet as widely used in the clinical setting.
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“Most of the contemporary 3D bio-printers are bulky, operate at a low speed, is expensive and incompatible with clinical application,” explains Gunter.
Scientists believe that their printer is a platform that can overcome these barriers to improve the healing process of the skin. Pocket printer of the skin similar to a dispenser of toilet paper but instead roll it miroustroistva, forming sheets of tissue. Vertical stripes “biochemie”, consisting of protein biomaterials like collagen and fibrin, together form each slice of skin. The printer is extremely portable and promises the ability to adapt to the specifics of each patient and the characteristics of the wound.
A small device the size of a Shoe box weighs less than a kilogram and requires minimal operator skills. Scientists hope that one day will be able to begin clinical trials in humans and to radically upend the traditional approach to the treatment of burns.
Portable 3D printer skin will help to “patch” the deep wounds
Ilya Hel