Mark Skylar-Scott is one of the world’s foremost experts on the 3D printing of human tissue, cell by cell. It’s a field better known as bioprinting. But Skylar-Scott hopes to take things to a level most never imagined. He and his collaborators are working to bioprint an entire living, working human heart. We’re printing biology, Skylar-Scott tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Episode Reference Links:

• Skylar-Scott Lab

Connect With Us:

• Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website
• Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon
• Connect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Host Russ Altman introduces the episode, guest Mark Skylar-Scott and his work bioprinting the heart.

(00:02:15) What is Bioprinting & Tissue Engineering?

Explanation of bioprinting and its distinction from traditional 3D printing. Overview of the technology and its applications in tissue engineering and how to get the cells for this purpose.

(00:06:37) Engineering the Cells of the Heart

The 11 different cell types of the heart that are being created, and the steps involved in printing them, scaffolding them, and how they form tissue.

(00:12:23) Building Hearts: Size and Growth Considerations

The scale of bio-printed hearts, potential strategies for growth and integration, & technical challenges in controlling cell growth and development. 

(00:15:05) Scaling Up Cell Production

The importance of scaling up cell production for efficient experimentation. Exploration of the transition from laboratory research to clinical implementation. 

(00:18:40) Vascularization: The Key to Functional Bioprinted Organs

Critical importance of creating a comprehensive vascular network & the challenges of integrating capillaries and ensuring nutrient delivery to all cells. 

(00:23:00) Ethical Considerations in Bioprinting

Examination of the ethical issues surrounding the use of human cells in bioprinting, focusing on consent and the potential for inequality in access due to cost.

(00:26:12) The Future of Bioprinting: Timeline and Field Dynamics

Projections about the timeline for the clinical application of bio-printed organs and the state of collaborative competition within the fabrication field. 

(00:28:28) Conclusion

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon

Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook

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