Researchers use 3D 'bioprinting' to create nose cartilage
ANI |
Updated: May 05, 2021 15:48 IST
Alberta [Canada], May 5 (ANI): In a breakthrough study, a team of University of Alberta researchers has discovered a way to use 3-D bioprinting technology to create custom-shaped cartilage for use in surgical procedures.
The work aims to make it easier for surgeons to safely restore the features of skin cancer patients living with nasal cartilage defects after surgery.
The researchers used a specially designed hydrogel -- a material similar to Jell-O -- that could be mixed with cells harvested from a patient and then printed in a specific shape captured through 3-D imaging. Over a matter of weeks, the material is cultured in a lab to become functional cartilage.