Episode #87 | Lattice News Summary: The Bioprinting Revolution & More

This is an AI-generated audio version of the news section of the Lattice Newsletter. You can find the full newsletter, including a list of recent healthcare 3D printing and bioprinting news here. 

Full Lattice Newsletter Archive.

Highlighted news this week:

• US Army developing field-deployable bioprinting labs for creating custom skin grafts in combat zones
• Stanford researchers designing organ-scale vascular trees for 3D-printed hearts 200 times faster than previous methods
• First patient treated with a bioengineered external liver (ELAP) for acute liver failure
• Researchers creating 3D bioprinted brain models that mimic real neural networks for studying Alzheimer's
• FDA-cleared monolithic full-color 3D printed dentures (Trudent) revolutionizing dental prosthetics
• New polymer blend for 3D printed medical devices kills 99.99999% of common bacteria
• World's first 3D-printed femur transplant in an 8-year-old child in Vietnam
• Healthcare systems bringing 3D printing capabilities directly into hospitals for point-of-care manufacturing
• Six key trends: hyper-personalization, point-of-care manufacturing, advanced materials, increased efficiency, addressing healthcare challenges, and regulatory progress

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to 3D Printing Revolution
• 1:37 Bioprinting Advancements and Challenges
• 7:43 Digital Dentistry Breakthroughs
• 10:56 Medical Devices and Surgical Applications
• 16:12 Antimicrobial Materials and Life-Saving Implants
• 21:03 Key Trends and Future Implications
• 23:18 Conclusion and Ethical Questions

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome back to the Deep Dive, your shortcut to being well-informed. Today, we're plunging into something truly remarkable the cutting edge of 3D printing and biofabrication. We're pulling directly from the latest 3D Heels Lattice newsletter for this deep dive, and specifically, this is deep dive number 87. That's right. The pace of innovation in these fields is just well incredible, and these sources offer a fantastic snapshot of where the tech is heading, giving you a real advantage in understanding what's next. So let's unpack this incredible stack of new developments. See what wonders await.

Speaker 2: 0:36

Absolutely. Our mission for this deep dive really is to take these diverse pieces of news, maybe group them into some clear categories, clarify any technical terms or abbreviations that pop up and, most importantly I think, identify the overarching trends that are truly shaping the future of medicine and well beyond.

Speaker 1: 0:54

Yeah, show people not just what's happening, but why it matters Right the broader implication why it matters for all of us. Absolutely. And when we talk about what's happening, I mean one of the most explosive areas of growth has to be bioprinting, literally building with biology. Oh, for sure, as we start looking at the you know, the living tissue side of things, what are some of the most fascinating developments jumping out?

Speaker 2: 1:16

Well, what's truly fascinating here is just how rapidly this field is evolving. It brings breakthroughs, yeah, but also some surprising challenges.

Speaker 1: 1:26

Like what.

Speaker 2: 1:27

For instance, researchers at the University of Queensland found that, while 3D bioprinting is booming, our current patent laws are actually struggling to keep pace.

Speaker 1: 1:36

Really how so.

Speaker 2: 1:37

It's kind of ironic, but if bioprinted tissues become too realistic, too good, exactly, they might actually struggle to secure patents. It's creating this sort of global confusion and risking crucial funding.

Speaker 1: 1:48

That's a fascinating paradox, isn't it? Success creating its own hurdle? How might this patent law issue impact research funding or the speed of innovations reaching patients?

Speaker 2: 1:59

Well, it definitely creates significant uncertainty for investors, for researchers, If the intellectual property isn't clearly defined and protected, it just slows down the whole commercialization pipeline, potentially delaying life-saving technologies. But you know, despite that hurdle, the work continues at an astonishing pace, especially when it comes to skin and tissue engineering.

Speaker 1: 2:21

OK, so what's pioneering in that space right now?

Speaker 2: 2:23

Well, take the US Army, for example. They're really pushing forward with 3D printed skin. They have a cooperative research and development agreement, that's a CRIDO, with the University of Hawaii.

Speaker 1: 2:31

A CRIDO okay.

Speaker 2: 2:32

And the goal is pretty groundbreaking to treat battlefield injuries like severe burns, chemical exposure, infections directly in the field.

Speaker 1: 2:41

Wow.

Speaker 2: 2:42

The vision is really ambitious. Imagine field deployable bioprinting labs in remote conflict zones, able to save lives right there by printing custom skin grafts.

Speaker 1: 2:53

Field deployable bioprinting labs for trauma care. I mean that sounds transformative, but what are the biggest logistical hurdles to making that a widespread reality for medics on the front line?

Speaker 2: 3:04

Oh, huge challenges. Transporting and maintaining sensitive biomaterials the biopritters themselves, in harsh, unpredictable environments. That's tough, yeah, but advancements like Stony Brook's TRACE tech are helping. Trace that stands for Tunable, Rapid Assembly of Collagenous Elements.

Speaker 1: 3:21

TRACE. Okay, got it.

Speaker 2: 3:23

Right, it's basically a new method that rapidly assembles collagen, you know, a fundamental building block of tissue for better, faster bioprinting. Ah, this is a pretty significant leap for tissue engineering. It allows for quicker, more precise construction of complex biological structures, which you know could make field deployment more feasible down the line.

Speaker 1: 3:44

Faster, better bioprinting. Okay, so the foundational science is definitely moving forward, but when we think about bioprinting, I guess the ultimate dream for many is creating whole organs, right? How close are we actually getting to that?

Speaker 2: 3:54

We are seeing some incredible developments, yeah, on an organ scale. Stanford researchers, for instance, have created a new algorithm. It designs organ-scale vascular trees for 3D-printed hearts.

Speaker 1: 4:04

Vascular trees, so like the blood vessel networks.

Speaker 2: 4:06

Exactly the intricate network that supplies the organ and this algorithm. It generates these complex networks 200 times faster than previous methods. That's a crucial step towards making truly functional bioprinted organs.

Speaker 1: 4:20

Wow, 200 times faster. That speed increase isn't just a number, is it? It must fundamentally change what's possible in organ design. What does that mean for the timeline to actually seeing a, you know, transplantable functional organ?

Speaker 2: 4:35

Well, it dramatically shortens the design phase that used to be a major bottleneck. Now a fully functional transplantable organ Still some time away? Definitely Sure, but breakthroughs like this bring it much, much closer. It accelerates the research exponentially. And speaking of organs United Therapeutics and Intermountain Health they've achieved a real medical milestone They've treated the first patient ever with a bioengineered external liver. It's called mural liver, elap.

Speaker 1: 5:00

An external liver.

Speaker 2: 5:01

Yeah, it offers new hope for acute liver failure patients who don't have transplant options available, kind of a bridge or even a destination therapy.

Speaker 1: 5:09

So we're not just thinking about replacing organs, but also supporting them externally. That's interesting. What about advancements that could lead to internal organ support, like for chronic conditions?

Speaker 2: 5:19

On that front. Yeah, there's some really promising research on a scalable 3D bioprinting platform. It uses human pancreatic decellularized extracellular matrix ECM bioing.

Speaker 1: 5:31

ECM bioing Okay.

Speaker 2: 5:33

The aim there is to create functional islet constructs for type 1 diabetes therapy.

Speaker 1: 5:37

Ah, the pancreas.

Speaker 2: 5:38

Exactly Preserving islet viability and insulin secretion for over 21 days in the lab. So far, this brings us closer, potentially, to a clinically translatable bioartificial pancreas, a potential long-term solution for millions.

Speaker 1: 5:52

This ability to create functional tissue on demand. That must tie into neurological models too, I imagine. Recreating brain tissue for research sounds like a monumental task.

Speaker 2: 6:01

Monumental is right, but researchers are now using 3D printed bioscaffolds to differentiate iPSCs.

Speaker 1: 6:07

Those are the induced pluripotent stem cells.

Speaker 2: 6:10

Correct, differentiating them into neural progenitors and then into motor neurons. This paves the way for really powerful new models for neurodegenerative diseases and potential therapies down the road, and we now have new 3D bioprinted brain models that actually mimic real neural networks. They have aligned axons, region-specific responses, making them incredibly powerful tools for studying complex conditions like Alzheimer's or even things like alcohol-related neurotoxicity.

Speaker 1: 6:39

The ability to model these diseases with such precision. Yeah, that's truly a game changer for research, for drug discovery. And all of this relies on cutting edge materials, I assume Are we seeing new bioinks emerging constantly?

Speaker 2: 6:53

Definitely, innovation in materials is key. For example, researchers at the University of Arkansas developed a novel bioink from drought tolerant sorghum protein.

Speaker 1: 7:01

Sorghum like the grain.

Speaker 2: 7:02

Yeah. What's special is it's hydrophobic and gluten-free, makes it suitable for printing various food or medicine gels. It's another example of how materials innovation is constantly expanding the possibilities, even hinting at new applications beyond direct medical treatment.

Speaker 1: 7:17

The scale of innovation here is just. It's breathtaking when you think about printing custom skin grafts for immediate battlefield trauma, or creating a functional pancreas for someone with type 1 diabetes, or even brain models to find a cure for Alzheimer's. It's not just about treating conditions anymore, is it? It feels like it's fundamentally redefining what's possible in health care.

Speaker 2: 7:43

It really is.

Speaker 1: 7:44

This isn't just technology. It feels like a profound shift towards what many are calling truly personalized regenerative medicine.

Speaker 2: 7:50

Precisely.

Speaker 1: 7:51

So, from the complexity of internal organs let's pivot maybe to something equally intricate but maybe overlooked sometimes our smiles.

Speaker 2: 8:00

Ah, dentistry yeah.

Speaker 1: 8:01

It's fascinating to see how 3D printing is also revolutionizing something as everyday yet impactful as dentistry. What's happening in digital dentistry?

Speaker 2: 8:09

Oh, it's a complete revolution in how dental solutions are designed and produced. It's huge. I am, for instance, stratacy's just unveiled Trudent, trudent. Yes, this is the first FDA-cleared you know Food and Drug Administration, right FDA the first FDA-cleared monolithic full-color dentures resin. What's remarkable is that these dentures are printed in one go, offering really natural aesthetics and a significantly faster workflow for the dental labs.

Speaker 1: 8:36

One print. That streamlines the process immensely, cuts down on multiple steps. And what about cosmetic applications like veneers? Is 3D printing making them more accessible or maybe less invasive?

Speaker 2: 8:48

Both really, Boston Microfabrication's Ultra Thin Air Veneers are a game changer.

Speaker 1: 8:53

Ultra Thin Air.

Speaker 2: 8:54

These are 3D printed zirconia masterpieces. They are incredibly thin, just 0.12 millimeters.

Speaker 1: 8:59

Wow, that is thin.

Speaker 2: 9:00

Designed to completely mask tough issues like tetracycline stains, without requiring invasive preparation of the natural pith.

Speaker 1: 9:07

So less drilling.

Speaker 2: 9:08

Less drilling, more comfort for the patient and a truly impressive aesthetic result Big win.

Speaker 1: 9:12

Less invasive dentistry is always a win. Yeah, are we also seeing breakthroughs in how dentures themselves are made, beyond just color and aesthetics, maybe in terms of fit or material combinations?

Speaker 2: 9:22

Absolutely. There's a German medtech startup called Fidentis. They're pioneering multi-material 3D printed dentures using robotic powder bed fusion.

Speaker 1: 9:31

Multi-material. Yeah, robotic Sounds complex.

Speaker 2: 9:34

It's pretty danced. This technique lets them create telescopic prostheses with a custom friction fit all in one seamless print. It's a major leap forward for custom, high-precision dental solutions, enabling complex designs that were previously impossible to manufacture in one go.

Speaker 1: 9:51

That kind of precision and customization sounds ideal for military applications as well. Maybe Are the armed forces exploring 3D printing for on-demand dental care too?

Speaker 2: 10:01

They are. Yeah, it mirrors the bioprinting initiatives we talked about. The US Army is actively exploring 3D printing for on-demand dental care directly in the field.

Speaker 1: 10:09

Makes sense.

Speaker 2: 10:10

There was a recent demonstration showcasing how this additive tech could significantly speed up treatment and boost soldier readiness, bringing immediate, high-quality care right where it's needed most, whether it's a broken tooth or a more complex prosthetic. So what we're seeing in digital dentistry, it's a clear and rapid shift toward highly customized solutions. They're faster to produce, more aesthetically pleasing and they integrate seamlessly into digital workflows. Benefits the patient, with better outcomes, and the practitioner with improved efficiency.

Speaker 1: 10:43

It's really transforming the field. That's a perfect summary, okay, so now let's broaden our scope a bit Beyond specific body parts like organs or teeth. How is 3D printing transforming, say, general medical devices and surgical practices, impacting the wider world of med tech?

Speaker 2: 10:56

Well, one really significant development addresses a major industry concern waste. This comes from MIT researchers.

Speaker 1: 11:02

Okay.

Speaker 2: 11:03

They've developed a dual light resin. It prints intricate structures and dissolvable support simultaneously, but what's truly innovative is that it recycles the support material right there on site.

Speaker 1: 11:12

It recycles it.

Speaker 2: 11:13

Yeah, dramatically reducing waste and it enables the creation of really complex, even moving parts in a single print. Huge potential for MedTech, medical technology.

Speaker 1: 11:24

Beyond the design freedom, this on-site recycling of support material yeah, that sounds like a game changer for cost and sustainability. Do we see this becoming like a standard in MedTech manufacturing soon?

Speaker 2: 11:36

It certainly has the potential. Sustainability is a growing concern, absolutely, and this method offers a tangible path to reducing the environmental footprint of making medical devices. But getting these innovations from the lab into widespread use in hospitals, that can be a huge challenge, regardless of the benefits.

Speaker 1: 11:54

Right the adoption gap.

Speaker 2: 11:56

Exactly, and that's where initiatives like MGA come in. It's an NGO-led strategy. They're actively pushing additive manufacturing from research labs directly into healthcare systems.

Speaker 1: 12:06

How are they doing that?

Speaker 2: 12:07

It involves uniting multidisciplinary teams doctors, engineers, designers to integrate 3D-printed prosthetics implants, other devices, right into hospitals.

Speaker 1: 12:16

Which raises an important question for all of us. I think, yeah. What are some of the biggest barriers to wider adoption in traditional hospital settings.

Speaker 2: 12:23

Is it cost training, regulatory huddles maybe something else entirely.

Speaker 1: 12:27

That's the key question, isn't it? How do we bridge that gap?

Speaker 2: 12:30

It's often a combination, really. The initial capital investment for the equipment can be high. Then there's the need to train staff on completely new workflows and navigating the let's face it sometimes slow-moving regulatory landscape, even with recent progress. But the benefits, particularly in areas like infection control, are just too significant to ignore.

Speaker 1: 12:51

Speaking of infection control, are there any breakthroughs there, using 3D printing specifically?

Speaker 2: 12:56

Absolutely. There's a new polymer blend for 3D printed medical devices that's truly revolutionary for infection control. It uses antimicrobial additives in PA11, that's polyamide 11 for SLS, selective laser centering printing.

Speaker 1: 13:10

PA11 for SLS, got it.

Speaker 2: 13:12

And get this. It kills an astonishing 99.99999% of common bacteria like S aureus and E coli.

Speaker 1: 13:20

Wow, 99.99999%, that's huge.

Speaker 2: 13:23

It is. This could revolutionize everything from surgical tools to implants, making them inherently safer, potentially making hospital-acquired infections maybe not a thing of the past entirely, but much less common.

Speaker 1: 13:34

Incredible. That's a massive step forward for patient safety. Beyond fighting infection, what about truly life-saving implants and advanced surgical planning? Where are we seeing big impacts?

Speaker 2: 13:46

This is where we see some of the most impactful stories, I think. Take the world's first 3D-printed femur transplant in a child. Happens in Vietnam.

Speaker 1: 13:53

Oh, I read about that.

Speaker 2: 13:54

Yeah, an 8-year-old child had a cancer-ridden femur replaced with a custom 3D-printed titanium implant. This allowed him to preserve his limb and regain his walking ability A massive leap forward in pediatric orthopedic oncology.

Speaker 1: 14:08

That story the eight-year-old child in Vietnam. It's incredibly moving. It really is. It's such a powerful reminder that behind all the science and the tech breakthroughs there are very real, life-changing human stories.

Speaker 2: 14:21

Absolutely.

Speaker 1: 14:21

And is this kind of bespoke, patient-specific care becoming more centralized, more accessible maybe?

Speaker 2: 14:27

Yes, exactly, the Bristol 3D Medical Center in the UK, part of the NHS, is a prime example. It's the first NHS hub to combine scanning, design and printing all under one roof.

Speaker 1: 14:37

All in one place.

Speaker 2: 14:38

Right. This lets them create bespoke prosthetics, surgical models for everything from infants needing cranial remodeling to complex facial reconstruction, vastly improving precise patient-specific care, and beyond that. They're also transforming trauma recovery using patient-specific models and surgical planning tools powered by 3D printing, truly ushering in a new era of personalized medicine in trauma care.

Speaker 1: 15:06

That integrated approach just makes so much sense, doesn't it, bringing the technology closer to the patient. Are we seeing other healthcare providers adopting this model, bringing 3D printing directly into their facilities?

Speaker 2: 15:17

We are Ricoh, for example, just launched Ricoh 3D for healthcare. Their goal is to accelerate point-of-care production.

Speaker 1: 15:23

Point-of-care right there in the hospital.

Speaker 2: 15:25

Exactly Patient-specific, fda cleared 3D-printed medical devices made directly in hospitals. This move aims to expand access to customized solutions and really drive innovation in personalized care right where it's needed. Similarly, at Carle that's a healthcare system A plastic surgeon and a medical student are collaborating using 3D printing for reconstructive surgery, creating personalized models that dramatically improve planning precision and, ultimately, patient outcomes.

Speaker 1: 15:53

It sounds like planning and precision are common threads across all these applications. What about a truly delicate application like, say, nerve repair, where precise connections are absolutely everything?

Speaker 2: 16:05

Ah yeah, that's another huge breakthrough. Area 3D systems and Tissium recently received FDA DeNovo approval.

Speaker 1: 16:12

DeNovo. What does that mean?

Speaker 2: 16:14

DeNovo approval is a pathway for novel medical devices that are low to moderate risk but don't have a predicate device already on the market. It's for truly new technology.

Speaker 1: 16:23

Got it A new pathway for new tech.

Speaker 2: 16:25

Right, and they got it for a device called Coaptium Connect with Tissium Light. It's the first of its kind Sutureless, sutureless yeah, no stitches needed. It's a 3D printed, bioabsorbable device designed to repair peripheral nerve damage. It's a game changer for a very challenging medical problem, potentially restoring function in ways previously impossible.

Speaker 1: 16:44

Yeah, that's truly remarkable. And it's not just inside the body or in strictly medical settings, is it? 3d printing seems to be going beyond direct clinical applications too.

Speaker 2: 16:54

Absolutely. It's bleeding into other areas. Researchers at UT Austin, for example, have unlocked a new 3D printing method for flexible, stretchable electronics.

Speaker 1: 17:03

Flexible electronics.

Speaker 2: 17:04

Yeah, next-gen medical devices. This has game-changing implications for wearables, think sensors that conform perfectly to your body, and even for implants that can move naturally with biological tissues.

Speaker 1: 17:15

Okay.

Speaker 2: 17:16

And if we look outside direct medical intervention, think about personalized nutrition.

Speaker 1: 17:21

Nutrition how.

Speaker 2: 17:22

There are exciting developments like 3D-printed gummies with customized nutrients and micronutrient-filled voids 3D-printed gummies Seriously. Seriously, it's a sweet step toward precision health, helping to combat nutritional deficiencies in a personalized and perhaps even enjoyable way.

Speaker 1: 17:39

Customized nutrition in a gummy. Suddenly taking your vitamins sounds a lot more appealing. Could this actually be the future of how we address widespread nutritional deficiencies, maybe for kids or picky eaters?

Speaker 2: 17:50

It's certainly a compelling and scalable approach. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 17:52

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 17:52

Especially for children or those with specific dietary needs. Yeah, and what about a more foundational area like wound care? Affects millions.

Speaker 1: 18:00

Right. Chronic wounds are a huge problem.

Speaker 2: 18:02

UToledo Health is using 3D printed scaffolds for customized, biocompatible, patient-specific treatment of chronic wounds. This signals a new era for regenerative medicine in wound care, moving beyond standard dressings to truly personalized healing. And just to show the sheer breadth of 3D printing's impact even. Nike is leveraging it.

Speaker 1: 18:22

Nike, the shoe company.

Speaker 2: 18:24

Yep. Their new Air Max 1000, dropping this summer, features 3D printed midsoles for personalized fit and lightweight performance. So you know, from life-saving implants to athletic footwear, 3D printing is truly becoming well, almost ubiquitous.

Speaker 1: 18:39

So, okay, that was a lot. What does this all mean for us, the listeners, who are trying to make sense of this, this tidal wave of information? What are the big takeaways here?

Speaker 2: 18:48

Yeah, it is a lot, but if we connect all these incredible advancements, several clear themes definitely emerge. Firstly, there's an undeniable trend towards hyper-personalization and customization.

Speaker 1: 18:59

Right, everything tailored.

Speaker 2: 19:01

Exactly. We're moving away from mass-produced solutions to patient-specific or individual-specific ones, whether that's dentures, surgical implants, models for planning surgery, wound grafts or even, yeah, personalized sneakers and vitamin gummies.

Speaker 1: 19:16

It's about tailoring solutions to the individual. That's a massive shift. But does this shift towards hyper-personalization raise any broader questions for healthcare systems? Will it make advanced treatments more accessible to everyone, or could it inadvertently create a kind of two-tiered system based on cost and availability?

Speaker 2: 19:35

That's a crucial point and a real concern. While it's a huge step forward for patient outcomes, we absolutely need to consider the economic and logistical implications for mass adoption and, importantly, equitable distribution. Secondly, we're seeing a strong move towards point-of-care manufacturing.

Speaker 1: 19:50

Right printing in the hospital.

Speaker 2: 19:52

Yeah, 3d printing capabilities are increasingly being brought directly into hospitals and clinics. Think of Ricoh's new division. We mentioned the Bristol 3D Medical Centers, or even the US Army's concept of field deployable labs. This increases accessibility and responsiveness, putting powerful tools directly into the hands of health care providers.

Speaker 1: 20:15

So less reliance on external labs, maybe quicker turnaround times. That seems huge for efficiency.

Speaker 2: 20:18

It is. Thirdly, there are continuous groundbreaking advancements in materials and bio-inks.

Speaker 1: 20:23

We heard about a few.

Speaker 2: 20:24

Yeah, new resins, antimicrobial polymers, diverse bio-inks like collagen, that decellularized ECM, even sorghum protein. These innovations are constantly expanding what's technically possible to print, both for medical and other applications. They're pushing the boundaries of what these machines can actually create.

Speaker 1: 20:41

And all those new materials combined with new processes that must lead to greater efficiency and speed. Right? Is that another trend?

Speaker 2: 20:48

Precisely our fourth trend efficiency and speed. New methods and technologies are dramatically speeding up processes across the board, from the design phase right through to the final print. This enables faster treatment for patients and quicker deployment of solutions in critical situations, like you know, on the battlefield. Then fifth, 3D printing is proactively addressing systemic challenges within healthcare itself.

Speaker 1: 21:13

How so.

Speaker 2: 21:14

Well, we saw examples of waste reduction with MIT's recycling method, revolutionary infection control with those antimicrobial materials and the potential to bring advanced care to remote or underserved areas through initiatives like the US Army's Field Labs concept, tackling real-world problems.

Speaker 1: 21:31

And it sounds like regulators are trying to keep pace too, which is vital for trust and widespread adoption, I imagine.

Speaker 2: 21:37

They are, which is our sixth key trend regulatory progress, the growing number of FDA clearances and approvals we discussed, from Stratus' Trudent Resin to Ricoh's Point of Care initiatives, and that 3D Systems' Coaptium Connect device.

Speaker 1: 21:51

Right the DeNovo approval.

Speaker 2: 21:52

Exactly All. That indicates a maturing field and, importantly, increased trust in 3D printed medical solutions. This regulatory confidence is absolutely vital for wider adoption.

Speaker 1: 22:04

It's great to see regulators keeping pace generally, but does this rapid approval process, especially for novel things like de novo, also present challenges, maybe in ensuring long-term safety data or, back to your earlier point, making sure these cutting-edge solutions are equitably distributed across different healthcare settings, not just the big research hospitals?

Speaker 2: 22:24

That's always the balance regulators have to strike agility versus long-term certainty. They're striving for agility without compromising safety, which means relying heavily on ongoing post-market surveillance and adapting frameworks as the technology evolves. The goal is always to get these beneficial innovations to patients safely and efficiently, but the equitable distribution aspect, particularly globally, that remains a significant hurdle, often outside of regulation itself. It involves economics, logistics, training.

Speaker 1: 22:51

Right A bigger picture challenge. Well, it's clear that 3D printing and biofabrication aren't just niche technologies anymore, are they? They're fundamentally reshaping how we approach health, healing and even everyday products. This deep dive into the 3D Heals Lattice newsletter really underscores just how quickly this field is advancing and its profound implications for all of us.

Speaker 2: 23:13

It really does, and maybe this raises an important, perhaps slightly provocative, question for you, the listener, to mull over. Okay, as 3D printing allows us to create increasingly realistic and functional biological structures, maybe even entire organs, someday, what new ethical and societal considerations might emerge around the very definition of natural versus human made? Where do we draw the line?

Speaker 1: 23:37

A powerful thought to consider as we wrap up this deep dive. Where do we draw that line? Thank you for joining us on this exploration of the future of 3D printing and biofabrication. No-transcript.