3D printing or additive manufacturing has become technology which becomes more and more widespread throughout the current technological society. It has started a revolution in the conventional manufacturing industry. Will it also result in a revolution in our healthcare system? It is emerging more and more in the modern hospitals to aid in surgical planning, in orthopaedic surgery more and more precise via patient specific cutting guides, etc. While these technologies are already quite impressive, 3D (bio)printing has the potential for so much more. Researchers anticipate it can be the tool to solve the donor shortage problem by 3D bioprinting new organs in the future. Or what if you could print miniature human tissues for drug screening to not only reduce the number of animal trials but also speed up the drug development process? These are all potential applications of the field of bioprinting or biofabrication, however one of the roadblocks on this journey is the availability of suitable materials or bioinks.
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