3D Printed Microfluidic Devices to Determine Organ Health

There's a global shortage of organs for transplant; demand highly exceeds supply. Currently, only about one in five people on the waiting list for a kidney transplant will actually receive one. The hope is that bioprinted organs will solve the crisis, but that day is still a while off, and in the meantime, many people's lives depend on a very limited supply of transplantable organs. 3D printing can help ease the shortage in other ways besides actually printing entire new organs, however. Researchers from Virginia Tech have developed a new technology they refer to as "microfluidic biopsy," which involves interfacing 3D printed microfluidic devices with whole organs. The devices conform to the organs and profile their molecular health signatures, or biomarkers. In other words, the devices help to determine how healthy and functional donor organs are. Learn more at 3DPrint.com: http://3dprint.com/180131/3d-printed...uidic-devices/

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