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It was years ago that stories first started appearing about advances in bioprinting. They seemed as regular as shampoo commercials. One day, we were promised, we’ll be able to print organs! Print new skin! Well, we’ve been patient—why is it taking so long?

There are a few good reasons. Firstly, the human body and its various components are a lot more complicated than a plastic toy or a ceramic piece of jewellery. A human organ has a complex web of cells, tissues, nerves and structures that need to be correctly positioned for it to function properly. From arranging the thousands of tiny capillaries in a liver, to actually getting a printed heart to ‘beat’ and contract—it’s a long, difficult process.

And of course, certain parts of the human body are more complex than others. An ear or nose is easier to make than a bladder for example, while the larger organs like kidneys, heart and liver are at the top of the difficulty rating. Each piece of our body has its own specialised requirements and issues that need addressing.

Added to this is the selection and availability of the right materials. Finding and testing cell types, and creating bio-inks that meet the dual demands of both printability and cell functionality, is an arduous process. Researchers also the need to take into account different growth rates and differentiation factors, as well as developing the right software and hardware to make it all come together. Working through all these complexities requires the integration and input of technologies from fields including engineering, biomaterials science, cell biology, physics and medicine.

Even after researchers believe they have it all ‘right’, bioprinted technologies—like all new medical treatments—are still required to pass safety tests and proper regulatory processes before they can be made available to the public. This can take years of testing and clinical trials.

Rest assured the technology is advancing, and our scientists are working hard to make those news stories a reality. So if you’re ever in doubt, just remind yourself of that old shampoo commercial, ‘it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.’