26 Apr Human Stem Cells Can Be Used For 3-D Printing of Tissue Stuctures

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Sang Jin Lee

Sang Jin Lee, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Wake Forest University

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: I received my Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea in 2003 and took a postdoctoral fellowship in the Laboratories for Tissue Engineering and Cellular Therapeutics at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital Boston and the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine where I am currently a faculty member. My research works have focused on development of smart biomaterial systems that support the regenerative medicine strategies and approaches. These biomaterial systems combined with drug/protein delivery system, nano/micro-scaled topographical feature, or hybrid materials that could actively participate in functional tissue regeneration. Recently my research works utilize 3D bioprinting strategy to manufacture complex, multi-cellular living tissue constructs that mimic the structure of native tissues. This can be accomplished by optimizing the formulation of biomaterials to serve as the scaffolding for 3D bioprinting, and by providing the biological environment needed for the successful delivery of cells and biomaterials to discrete locations within the 3D structure.

MedicalResearch.com: What cells are you developing to be used in 3D organ printing?

Response: Human primary tissue-specific cell types or stem cells (e.g. iPS cells or adult stem cells) can be utilized for 3D bioprinting.

MedicalResearch.com: What tissues/organs are most amenable to 3D printing?

Response: Simple single tissue constructs (e.g. skull bone, mandibular bone, auricular cartilage, trachea, etc.) have been tested in the large preclinical animal studies. Some of them have already been applied for translation

MedicalResearch.com: Are there rejection issues to be addressed?

Response: Since autologous cells (derived from patients own) are mainly considered as the cell source, minimal host responses are expected.

MedicalResearch.com: Where do you see medical 3D imaging having its biggest impact in the near future?

Response: Medical imagining can significantly contribute to 3D bioprinting approaches when we target to complex, heterogenic tissues or organs.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?

Response: The ultimate goal of 3D bioprinting is to fabricate clinically applicable tissue constructs containing patient’s own cells. We believe that this technology can overcome the tissue/organ shortage in the near future.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

Pluripotent Stem Cells and their Translational Applications presentation at Experimental Biology Meeting April 2017
http://experimentalbiology.org/2017/Home.aspx

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on April 26, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD