"To put it simply, it is 3D bioprinting."
After the Red Queen finished speaking, she also sent a simulation diagram. First, the human organs are scanned and dissected from the inside out, and the position of each cell is recorded. Then, cell culture technology is used to culture the cells separately.
By adding these cells as "bio-ink" to a 3D bioprinter, organs can be printed.
This technology is currently being developed by many scientific research institutions on Earth, and they have successfully printed organs such as skin, ears, and noses. However, there has been limited progress in blood, bone marrow, or internal organs.
Because these important organs have sophisticated structures and complex functions, and things can go wrong if you are not careful, there has been no major breakthrough yet.
Mr. L: “This is good, I just need this!”
Group prompt: "The Red Queen has sent you an exclusive red envelope."
Lu Zixin received a red envelope, which contained a 3D bioprinter and related accessories, including in vitro cell culture, organ scanning, etc.
…
At the Hongxin Future City Biotechnology Research Institute, Lu Zixin asked people to form a team to prepare for 3D bioprinting research. The first experimental goal was to print the bone marrow of the little girl Zhang Yan!
Before the experiment, Hongxin also deliberately reported the experiment. This kind of experiment is not something you can just do if you want to. It also needs to be reviewed by relevant agencies. Especially experiments involving human organs may encounter scientific and ethical issues, so you need to be more cautious.
The approval opinion has come down. Experiments with 3D bioprinters are limited to in vitro human cell culture and organ printing for medical purposes. Any other experiments on human subjects or that violate scientific ethics are not allowed.
After the declaration, the patient's guardian must be notified and their consent must be obtained.
In the ward of Hongxin International Hospital, the little girl Zhang Yan is getting weaker day by day, and even speaking has become difficult.
Frequent treatments have seriously overdrawn her body functions. Her once bright eyes have now become hollow, like those of the dying old people.
In the attending doctor's office, the attending doctor was discussing an important matter with her adoptive parents.
"In Zhang Yan's situation, if she doesn't undergo a bone marrow transplant, she will probably survive for two months at most." The attending doctor tried his best to speak in a calm tone, but Zhang Yan's adoptive mother still couldn't help but have tears in her eyes, even though they had expected this. In the end, it was extremely painful to see the child suffering from illness.
"Doctor, we have worked hard to find his adoptive father and adoptive mother... but..." Zhang Yan's adoptive father sighed helplessly.
"I know you can't force this kind of thing." The attending doctor said, "As doctors, we most hope that the patient can recover."
"There is another way now. I wonder if you are willing to give it a try. I told you in advance that this method is very risky and the outcome is unimaginable! Can you understand?"
"Whatever way - no matter what way, we are willing to give it a try!" Zhang Yan's adoptive mother said immediately. Now they have nothing to do. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, they all want to try.
"That's it." The attending doctor introduced: "Now our Hongxin Biotechnology Research Institute is studying a brand new medical technology, 3D bioprinting. In short, it is the use of 3D printing technology to create in vitro artificial organs."
"3D printed organs?" Zhang Yan's adoptive parents were a little surprised when they heard this. Can medical technology still be like this
"Let me explain in detail." The attending doctor said, "We used this new technology to print a brand new bone marrow for Zhang Yan. Because the cells were cultured from her own body, there will be no allogeneic rejection."
"But! What I want to emphasize is that this is a brand-new technology. No medical institution in the world has tried such an experiment before. The hospital cannot guarantee you the success rate of the experiment."
"I can only guarantee that we will provide voluntary treatment throughout the entire process and you will not need to pay a penny. But we cannot guarantee the results of the treatment."
After the doctor finished speaking, Zhang Yan’s adoptive mother said directly: “We agree!”
"Agree so quickly? Are you going to stop thinking about it?" the doctor asked again.
Zhang Yan's adoptive father said: "We don't agree and there is no other way. If there is a chance for the child to survive, if we don't try, we will blame ourselves for the rest of our lives."
"We also want the child to know about this matter, and it depends on her choice."
"Well, no problem." The attending doctor said.
Zhang Yan’s adoptive parents told her about this, but Zhang Yan herself didn’t really understand. Hong Xiaoxiao patiently explained it to her several times before she understood it, and she immediately agreed.
"Xiao Xiao, if my illness is cured, I will play with you every day!" Zhang Yan said trying her best to put on a smile.
Zhang Yan's guardian signed the agreement, and the medical experiment officially began. Lu Zixin didn’t have to worry about most of the experimental process. Their research team had extensive experience in cultivating cells. The only thing they needed to worry about was whether the final 3D bioprinter could replicate intact bone marrow and successfully transplant it into Zhang Yan’s body. .
More than a month later, in the cell culture laboratory, biomaterial ink composed of various cells was loaded into the 3D bioprinter, and printing began according to the composition of bone marrow.
"It must succeed!" The researchers present prayed silently.
If successful this time, it will be another leap forward for the medical community. With this technology, from now on, the problem of needing organ transplants or lack of blood can be solved.
The 3D bioprinter is running rapidly, and it "stacks" cells one by one according to rules to form bone marrow.
Biological researchers have been paying attention to real-time holographic projection, which will enlarge the printing site so that they can clearly see the printing process. If there is any error, they can stop it at any time.
Fortunately, the printing process controlled by the quantum computer did not go wrong.
No matter internally or externally, there is no difference between the printed human bone marrow and the real human bone marrow. I just don’t know whether it can be successful after transplantation. The researchers could wait, but Zhang Yan had no time to wait.
Outside, in the operating room, the thin Zhang Yan was lying on the operating table, waiting for a bone marrow transplant. The newly printed bone marrow was sent to begin the transplant operation.
The surgeon took a deep breath, looked at the time, and whispered: "Start!"
In the operating room, the intense and busy operation suddenly began. Outside the operating room, the people waiting were even more nervous. There are the 3D bioprinting research team, Zhang Yan’s adoptive parents, Lu Zixin, Hong Xiaoxiao, etc. They are all silently blessing Zhang Yan and looking forward to the success of this operation.