Scientists demonstrate 3D printing of organs in JNU

New Delhi: The medicine and healthcare technology, which is facing a boon worldwide, is expected to be soon translated as success in India as well. For the first time, a gamut of scientists and biological engineering experts from across the world demonstrated 3D printing technology of cartilages and bones in an exclusive international meet held in JNU.

The event witnessed the experts discussing new scientific frontiers in engineering chromosomes and making human cell factory besides building 3D structures. The Indian experts will also be developing a laboratory to produce human bones, which could be used by patients. This technology is likely to be initiated at the JNU labs for the first time in the country.

“For the past few years, scientific progress has moved so fast that printing organs on demand is no longer considered a science fiction. While there is a massive unmet demand from the health sector, there is a severe shortage of healthy organs for replacing physically damaged or diseased organs in the body. An organ bank, that can supply heart, kidney, liver, skin, bones and so on, would be a lifesaver for the humanity,” said Pawan K Dhar, professor and head of Synthetic Biology Group, School of Biotechnology.

Technically, the science of 3D printing works just like an ordinary inkjet printer with the difference that the stage also moves incrementally down in addition to moving back and forth. It is this vertical movement that generates depth in tissue.

Prof. Dhar expressed gratitude to the JNU administration for their strong support in helping him introduce this technology in the varsity.

Prof. Dhar and Prof. Shailja Singh (molecular medicine) have predicted that within two years, India would see on demand printing of biological tissues like cartilages and bones on a commercial scale.

Scientists across the world are also working towards the development of artificial human organs.