Researchers from the University of Connecticut created a handheld 3D bioprinter that prints scaffolds for musculoskeletal surgery. The device prints scaffolds directly onto defect sites within weakened skeletal muscles and eliminates the need for suturing. The new method does not require sophisticated imaging and printing systems.
The bioprinter’s scaffolds adhere to surrounding tissues of an injury and can mimic the properties of the existing tissue. It prints gelatin-based hydrogels that adhere to the defect site. The 3D printed scaffolds mimicked skeletal muscles in vitro and were successful in mice with muscle loss injuries. Mice showed a significant increase in muscle hypertrophy. The customizable printed gel creates a new treatment paradigm and improves the care of trauma patients.
Current methods for strengthening weak muscles are inadequate at treating volumetric muscle loss. But 3D printing can actually reconstruct muscle.
While the new method is promising, it has some problems to overcome before it can be used in hospitals. Currently, the bioprinter requires a specific biomaterial that will adhere to the defect site. It has yet to be successfully used on a human patient.
A paper on this bioprinter was published in the American Chemical Society.