Gaby
In research, scientists often face limited access to human tissue samples in the exact sizes and types they need for many projects. A 3D bioprinter could solve that problem. But commercial bioprinters are extremely expensive, and few research groups can afford them.
A team at Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences found a workaround. They built an inexpensive bioprinter out of Lego building blocks, dramatically cutting the cost of producing biological tissue samples for ongoing studies.
They spent only $624 to create a 3D bioprinter from a popular children’s toy.
How a creative idea was brought to life.
Bioprinters let researchers grow cells in three dimensions, which best replicates the complex architecture of human tissue. In other words, bioprinting creates more accurate models for studying healthy and diseased tissue.
The multidisciplinary team of engineers and biologists chose Lego as the basis for their design. They said the toy is cheap, versatile, and its standardized parts are very precise. The publication Science Alert reported that the sets are also available worldwide.
Lego bricks had been used before to build 3D printers. But it was unclear whether the idea of a printer that lays down solid plastic structures could be adapted to print soft biological materials.
The team successfully brought that idea to life. To build their “affordable high-performance” bioprinter, they used standard Lego parts, a Lego Mindstorms kit for school robotics, and a laboratory pump.
The 3D bioprinter is still in its early stages. It will need refinement before it achieves the precision required to produce delicate biological tissues.
The bioprinter works like this. A nozzle deposits a gel-like substance filled with cells into a dish. The device moves the nozzle back and forth and up and down. As the gel is extruded, layers of cells form and gradually reproduce a three-dimensional tissue structure.
And what comes next?
The team said the bioprinter could be modified to use different nozzles to print different types of cells. That would help accurately simulate healthy and diseased skin and discover new ways to treat skin diseases.
The inventors from Cardiff published detailed instructions online showing how to build a Lego 3D bioprinter. They provided clear guidance for anyone who wants to build the device anywhere in the world.
This information will be particularly useful for scientists with limited research funding. The inventors wrote that it offers “an open, accessible, and affordable alternative to vital equipment that exceeds the budget of most researchers.” They hope the Lego 3D bioprinter will help scientists carry out innovative research to improve human health.
