February is American Heart Month, and in light of that, we’re bringing back an episode about a group here at Stanford Engineering that’s developing 3D printing methods for human tissues and organs, a process known as bioprinting. Motivated in part by the critical need for heart transplants, Mark Skylar-Scott and his team are specifically working to bioprint tissues of the human heart. It may sound like science fiction, but it’s actually just another example of the groundbreaking research we do here. We hope you’ll take another listen and be inspired by the possibilities.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces guest, Mark Skylar-Scott, a professor of bioengineering at Stanford University.
(00:02:06) What is Bioprinting?
The role of cells and biopolymers in printing functional biological structures.
(00:03:31) Bioprinting a Heart
The potential of printing organs on demand, especially heart tissue.
(00:04:38) Obtaining Cells for Bioprinting
Using stem cells derived from the patient's own cells to create heart tissue.
(00:06:29) Creating Multiple Cell Types for the Heart
The challenge of printing eleven different heart cell types with precision.
(00:08:50) The Scaffold for 3D Printing
The support material used in 3D printing and how it’s later removed.
(00:10:10) Cell Migration and Organ Formation
How cells organize themselves to form functional heart tissue.
(00:12:08) Growing a Full-Sized Heart
Whether they’re printing full-sized hearts or starting with smaller organs.
(00:13:34) Avoiding Overgrowth Risks
The role of bioreactors in shaping the early stages of the organ.
(00:14:57) Scaling Up Cell Production
The need to generate massive numbers of cells for experimentation.
(00:18:32) The Challenge of Vascularization
Creating a blood vessel network to supply oxygen and nutrients.
(00:22:35) Ethical Considerations in Bioprinting
Consent, stem cell sourcing, and the broader ethical landscape.
(00:26:04) The Timeline for Bioprinted Organs
The long timeline for bioprinted organs to reach clinical use.
(00:27:24) The State of the Field & Collaboration
The collaborative, competitive biofabrication field and its rapid progress.
(00:28:20) Conclusion
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