A new method for 3D printing materials that resemble the strength and flexibility of human flesh has been developed by researchers.
The University of Pennsylvania and the University of Colorado Boulder collaborated to create this novel 3D printing technique, which is known as continuous curing after Light Exposure Aided by Redox initiation (CLEAR).
It’s interesting to note that this method will provide materials with a special mix of qualities: toughness to withstand joint pressure, flexibility to withstand the continuous pounding of the heart, and adaptability to meet individual patient needs.
The group anticipates that this method will lead to the development of sophisticated biomaterials including cartilage patches, drug-infused cardiac dressings, and sutureless materials.
Similar to cartilage, cardiac tissues have a very limited capacity for self-healing. Once they are harmed, there’s no recovery. We can significantly improve patient outcomes by creating new, more resilient materials to facilitate the mending process, according to senior author Jason Burdick.
3D printers use various materials, including living cells, to produce objects layer by layer. Although ordinary 3D-printed hydrogels may lack the strength and flexibility needed for medical purposes, hydrogels are widely used to create artificial tissues.
Consider what would happen if your heart were covered in hard plastic. It wouldn’t sag with each heartbeat. It would simply break apart,” Burdick remarked.
