Medscape April 18, 2025
We’ve come a long way from the Vacanti mouse.
Back in the mid-90s, Charles Vacanti and other researchers experimented with cartilage regeneration and, with the help of a biodegradable mold and bovine cells, grew cartilage the size and shape of a human ear under the skin of a nude mouse, making it look like it had an ear growing out of its back. Along with the cartilage, one of the first internet memes was born.
The work to create viable human tissue from scratch — whether that’s cells or an entire organ — has not stopped. With cell-based “bioinks” and three-dimensional (3D) bioprinters, researchers are creating viable tissue with multiple applications.
Unlike the everyday 3D printers in homes and schools,...
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