2. 3-D bioprinting human tissue

Printing a fully functioning kidney from a patient’s own cells is still a futuristic concept, but printing tissue for simple transplant parts is a more realistic near-term hope.


Several universities have developed bioprinters, and manufacturers like regenHU Ltd. in Sweden and German-based Envision TEC are selling 3-D bioprinting equipment and materials. California-based Organovo and other companies are currently providing functional human tissue for pharmaceutical testing.

The process involves liquefying cells from the patient or donor and depositing them on a scaffold in a configuration that’s customized to each patient. The bioprinted structure then incubates until it becomes viable tissue.

Although it will likely be years before organs can be bioprinted, there is some promising research underway. The company Russian 3-D Bioprinting Solutions was able to print a functioning thyroid in a mouse and claims to be ready to do the same in humans.

Next: smart scalpel

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