Pluripotent Stem Cells
Embryonic stem cells have faced controversy for years. Less well known are adult stem cells found in various tissues. Of particular interest are pluripotent adult stem cells. These stem cells can differentiate themselves under certain conditions to transform into different cell types such as skin, muscle, bone, etc. The potential benefits of being able to […]
Graphene Flexes its Muscles
Graphene is amazing. Things it makes possible will seem like miracles. (See prior stories about graphene in the Attitude LLC blog.) In combination with 3-D printing, graphene may accelerate the possibilities for printing human tissues, including organs. A team of biomedical, electrical engineering, and materials science PhDs published an article about how graphene foam can be a scaffold for […]
Artificial Cartilage for Your Knees and Hips
One thing baby boomers have in common is the need for joint replacements. The number of hip and knee replacements in the U.S. is approaching one million per year. Over the years ahead, projections indicate there may not be enough surgeons to handle the rapidly growing demand. In many cases, the need for the replacement […]
3-D Printing with Stem Cells
The ultimate potential for 3-D printing is printing large tissues and organs. People die waiting for an organ transplant, and 3-D printing could ultimately prevent lost lives. The potential may be sooner than expected. An Israeli 3-D printer firm, Nano Dimension, has successfully lab-tested a 3-D bio-printer using human stem cells as the ink. 3-D printers are […]
Printing Human Tissue
3-D printing has come a long way. I first saw it in an IBM laboratory in the early 1990s. It was huge and costly. The cost has plummeted. Now I have one in my workshop. I print objects using filament made from Polylactic Acid (PLA). The PLA is 1.75mm in diameter. That is about seven one-hundredths of […]
