3D Bio-Printing

A Quick Start
Ethical views on 3D Printing in Medical

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Congratulation and thank you for purchasing the new 3D Bio-printer! This Quick Start includes
explanations for concerns on the ethics of 3D bioprinting. Welcome to one of the newest medical
innovations — the future is closer than you think.
If you have any question, please feel free to reach us at 3dbioprinting@medical.com.
This Quick Start Guide will explain the ethical concerns of 3D bio-printing in the Medical Field
and the possibilities of the future.
For detailed explanations check the 3D bio-printing User Guide, in the USB mass
storage device.

INTRO…………… ……………………………… ………… ………………………………….4

SAFETY………… …………… …………………………………………………………………4
PRINTER………………………….…….……….………………………………………………5
MATERIAL……………………….……….……….….…………………………………………6
Organs…… ………………………………………………………………………………6
Prosthetics/Implants………………………………………………………………………6
Software…… …… ……… ………………………………………………………………7
ETHICAL CONCERNS…………………………………………………………………………7
WORKS CITED………………………………………………………………………………….9
Websites……………………………………………………………………………………9
Picture……………………………………………………………………………………10

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Intro
There are many aspects to the ethical concerns of 3D printing in the medical field. The
concerns vary from safety to environmental aspects. Everything has a limit, and if you don’t pass
the limit, then everyone is going to be safe. It’s said that with power comes responsibility, and that
is very true with this situation, because there are many possibilities in the near future, with 3D
bio-printing.

Safety

For safety reasons, you should not be bio-printing any forms of weapons, bio-warfare/
viruses.
If you are dealing with the 3D bio-printer you MUST have gloves on at ALL times. DO
NOT touch the print jet during set up and operation, they will be extremely hot.
These bioprinters are for medical lab use ONLY. DO NOT unplug the bio-printer while
the extruders are still hot, wait for them to cool down.
Because there isn’t enough information on 3D bio-printed organs, the organs printed are
should NOT be used in patients.
You are NOT allowed to print any medication with this printer.

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Printer

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Material

Organs:
For bio-printing, these 3D bio-printers use, bio-ink,
or a layer of living cells are computer-guided by pipette
(Nawrat). To keep the cells from damaging the
temperature of the ink is between 0° C-4° C, the cell
becomes more and more formed the ink is headed up to
37° C. These organ-specific cells have vascular channels
throughout the stem cell to keep it from dying within the
first 12 hours (“A Swifter Way”). These stem cells pumped into a silicon mold that holds a chip,
that acts like the cells of that specific orange and helps carry out its specific functions (“Human
Organs”). The bio-ink made of “vascular channels containing living endothelial cells in silicone
ink is printed, into which a self-supporting ink containing living mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)
… After printing, a liquid composed of fibroblasts and extracellular matrix is used to fill open
regions within the construct, adding a connective tissue component that cross-links and further
stabilizes the entire structure.” This helps the tissue structure to be perfused with nutrients,
growth, and functions that can differentiate the cells, an inlet and outlet (opposite end) connect to
a vascular channel so that the cell can mature and survive (“3D Bioprinting”).

Prosthetics/Implants:
There is a variety of material that is used for 3D printed prosthetics. Some of the common
material used for prosthetics are acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Bridge nylon, for stronger
material, lightweight titanium, for high durability and strength for prosthetics, and titanium for
maxillofacial, spinal, and dental implants, polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), for skull implants. The
electromagnetic frequencies, in these prosthetics, are detected with silicon, chondrocytes, and
silver nanoparticles (Reidel).

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Software:
There are many software programs that most doctors use, depending on their needs. These
some of the commonly used software programs for 3D modeling, 3D-Doctor by Able Software
Corp, Within Medical by AutoDesk, Medical Design Studio by Anatomage, Ossa 3D by
Conceptualiz (this is a mobile only software), and D2P by 3D Systems (“The Best”).

Ethical Concerns
There are many concerns about 3D bioprinting, but there
are also many There are many concerns about 3D bioprinting,
but there are also many advantages. Some of the concerns
come from culture and there are others that question the safety,
not only for the word but how safe is it to “print” yourself an
organ when the old one starts to give out? When it comes to
the ethical concerns of 3D printing many aspects are taken into consideration because 3D
bioprinting affects many areas.
From a cultural aspect, many people look at 3D printing in the medical field like a
Pandora’s box. 3D bioprinting is thought to release many dangerous and powerful threats to the
world (Boucher). But the reality is that the medical industry is growing, with a huge boost from
3D printing. In 2016, in the medical field, 3D-printing was worth $713.3 million and it predicted
by 2026 it will be worth about $3.5 billion (Nawrat). 3D- printers have allowed prosthetics to be
customizable, cost and time-efficient, which is helpful for patients.
Security is one of the major concerns when it comes to bioprinting. There is a possibility in
the future that we’ll be able to make fully functioning organs that can be used in a human body.
With a capability like this, what are the chances of creating “superhumans”? They could have
better eyesight, hearing, and strength; our military wouldn’t have many limits to our soldiers,
protecting our country would be easier than before. Our “super soldiers” could even have (more)
efficient hearts that can pump more (than the average person) blood throughout their bodies
(“Super Soldiers”). With bioprinting, we could build an even stronger army.
Bioprinting is questioned about the safety it ensures. Scientists are working on creating fully
functioning organs that can replace an organ. These organs are expected to cost less than your

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typical organ (from an organ donor) and is to be accepted
into your body without any problems. This is because these
3D printed organs would be made from your skin cells, and
would be crafted to the exact size and shape to fit into your
body, perfectly. The “waiting list” for organ implants is
expected to be shorter, then it is now, for normal organs
(Boucher). 3D printed bones (from titanium) are being used
for orthopedic surgery to replace older bones (“3D Printing”). 3D bio-printing would be a huge
boost to the medical world, because, there has been a decline in the organ donation rates, which
is making it harder and harder to obtain an organ (Davies). “The prevalence of respiratory
illnesses and diseases such as lung cancer prompted artificial lung research that led to the
development of external membrane oxygenators that tended to extend the lives of persons
afflicted with these conditions” (Davies). This shows how the life span of someone with certain
diseases could be prolonged. Bioprinting isn’t only helping with patients, it’s also helpful for the
doctors, themselves.
Bioprinting could cause (organ-on-chip) testing on animals for drug approval would be
eliminated; because these organs would help us figure out the side effects of the drug without
having to use live animals (Miriamwood). 3D printers would also help surgeons prepare for the
surgery ahead of time, meaning they would be able to physically touch and move the organ
(model) to get a better understanding of what they are working with. Depending on the needs of
these surgeries, doctors have started to 3D print surgical tools to help with specific needs (“7
Major”). These are some of the many possibilities of 3D- bioprinting.
There are many ethical concerns related to 3D- printing in the medical field. Many of the
impacts caused by this innovation has helped get our medical practices to the next level. There
are many great outcomes of both 3D bioprinting and 3D printing (for prosthetics and such).
Doctors are planing 3D printed organs soon for many reasons, and because of the 3D printer,
performing surgeries is easier than it was in the past. 3D printing in the medical field has opened
a world of possibilities for us to constantly improve upon.

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