Fortified Hydrogel Printing Achieved - May Lead to Human Cartilage 3D Printing

Tissue engineering and 3D printing of fiber-reinforced hydrogels are working in tandem these days, and Shannon Bakarich, a PhD candidate at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science based at University of Wollongong in Australia, has taken the 3D printing process further, both speeding it up and making it simpler with a one-step process. His 3D-printed fibers give strength to the hydrogel, much like the fiberglass on a surfboard. To illustrate the process, Bakarich produced a prototype of meniscus—or, knee—cartilage. His new method will help further applications in soft robotics and medical bionics. More details on this story may be found here: http://3dprint.com/15237/3d-printing-hydrogels

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