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3D printing for the many, not the few

Nature Biotechnology volume 32, pages 1086–1087 (2014)Cite this article

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To the Editor:

Two articles in the August issue1,2 highlight the commercial and scientific promise of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting. Certainly, 3D printing is in vogue. Papers in academic journals and the mainstream media consistently laud (or indeed fear) its potential, reporting the latest feats of ingenuity while alluding to future advances that until recently were considered in the realm of science fiction. This is especially true in the biomedical sector. Reports have focused almost exclusively on the manufacture of advanced, customized devices—airway splints3, bionic ears4—and the still distant, but increasingly feasible, prospect of 3D-printed soft tissues and organs, as detailed by Murphy and Atala2. Although excitement in these advanced applications is warranted, readers should also realize that 3D printing offers opportunities in less complex, cheaper and more accessible implementations.

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Figure 1: 3D printing of molds used in the production of an extracorporeal silicone exudate-collecting chamber and a separate customized retainer.

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Acknowledgements

J.N.F. is a Wellcome Trust Research Training Fellow. Funding for the design and 3D printing of the exudate-collecting chamber was provided through this award. This work was undertaken at University College London/University College London Hospital, which receives funding from the Department of Health's National Institute for Health Research as a Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK

    James N Fullerton & Richard M Day

  2. Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK

    George C M Frodsham

  3. Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK

    George C M Frodsham

Authors
  1. James N Fullerton
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  2. George C M Frodsham
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  3. Richard M Day
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Correspondence to Richard M Day.

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Fullerton, J., Frodsham, G. & Day, R. 3D printing for the many, not the few. Nat Biotechnol 32, 1086–1087 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3056

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