October 1, 2014

Printing Parts for Bodies - New eBook tells the story of an impending revolution in medicine

We may be only a few years away from a time when every major hospital will be equipped with 3D printing capabilities.

A new eBook, 3D BioPrinting: Printing Parts for Bodies, released this week, tells the story of this impending revolution in medicine that will involve the ability to re-grow and repair human tissue including bone, cartilage, muscle and nerves, all through a digital fabrication method called 3D BioPrinting.

Written by scientists, engineers and ethicists at the forefront of this emerging field, the book offers an entry-level understanding of the principles behind the engineering, the biology and the strategy of this new clinical approach to medicine.

Co-Author Dr Cathal O’Connell said he and his colleagues were motivated to write the book to give audiences a realistic understanding of the technology.

“The whole field of medicine could be upturned by this technology,” he said. “But at the same time, the hype of 3D printing is often overblown.  We wanted to present the reality, to provide a general audience with an understanding of what the technology is capable of now, and where it’s going in 5 or 20 years.”

3D BioPrinting is being enabled by a convergence of several revolutionary scientific advances including 3D printing, tissue engineering and biomaterials, which can seamlessly integrate into the body. 

Co-Author Professor Gordon Wallace (pictured above), Director of the University of Wollongong-headquartered ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, said that these advances were challenging how researchers think about medical science.

“3D BioPrinting of structural materials has already provided practical solutions to medical challenges,” Wallace said.  “As 3D BioPrinting evolves to include printing of living cells, we will be faced with both technical opportunities and social challenges.”

3D BioPrinting: Printing Parts for Bodies was launched today at a public event at Questacon in Canberra. 

The launch featured live 3D printing demonstrations and short talks from one of the book’s authors Professor Gordon Wallace as well as Questacon Director Professor Graham Durant. 

Note to media
The eBook is available at 3dbioprint.creatavist.com/3dbioprinting. Review copies and printed copies are available for media on request.

Media contact
Natalie Foxon Phillips, Communications & Media Officer, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, +61 2 4221 3239, +61 414 550 278, nfoxon@uow.edu.au.