Consumer 3D Printer Used to Create Human Tissue

Traditional 3D printers build hard objects layer by layer, typically from materials such plastic or metal. Printing with soft materials has been highly challenging because each layer requires sturdy support from the layers below.

The researchers developed a new method enabling them to print with soft materials such as collagens, alginates and fibrins that naturally appear in the body. To date, medical 3D printing has been mainly used to create prosthetics.