Nanotechnology and 3D printing are two breakthroughs in the medical field that are moving from the realm of science fiction into real-world applications albeit still mostly at the experimental stage.
Imagine swallowing down a nanobot that swims through your bodily fluids, while sending diagnostic information to your doctors. Or ordering a 3D printed
replacement kidney instead of waiting for a donor.
Nanotechnology
Before we go down this particular rabbit hole, let’s check out what the term means. Very simply, nanotechnology is the study and application of extremely small things, on the scale of atoms and molecules. This field of study has attracted a great deal of attention in medicine because it opens up possibilities in exploring the human body even at the cellular level.
Believe it or not, an ingestible camera, the PillCam, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration way back in 2001, two decades ago. By 2008, it had been used in more than 2 million procedures. These days, PillCams are most commonly used for capsule endoscopy, where a small camera inside a vitamin sized pill takes thousands of
pictures as it travels through your digestive tract. The pictures are transmitted to a recorder you wear on a belt around your waist. This helps doctors diagnose bowel diseases, tumors and cancers, and other problems in the gastrointestinal system.
Another area where nanotechnology is being applied is in the use of nanobots for microsurgeries. Researchers are looking at applications such as eye surgeries, clearing blocked arteries, or collecting tissue samples for biopsies. Nanobots are also being studied for their potential in the targeted delivery of treatments to specific areas, such as stomach ulcers or cancer cells.
More recently, nanotechnology applications are also being explored in the use of nanosensors for faster and more effective virus detection, nano patches for convenient delivery of vaccines, and even bioabsorbable bandages with embedded nanofibers for quick healing.
Although still not mainstream, nanotechnology is being touted as the “magic pill” that can continuously monitor our physical condition, identify problems and immediately repair the tissues that need attention. Not science fiction anymore, there is a great deal of scientific activity in this area, and we could see widespread use in our lifetime.
3D Printing
3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is the process of creating a three dimensional object using various materials layer by layer. The technique was first used in the 1980s to produce design or engineering prototypes. Now, 3D printing has grown in sophistication, with the advantage of being able to produce very complex shapes using a wide range of materials.
In the medical field, 3D printing has a number of applications in various stages of development. First, 3D printing can be used to produce prosthetic limbs that are custom designed and fitted to the user. 3D printed prosthetics can be produced faster and cheaper, with a more natural fit and appearance.
Another use of 3D printed models for surgery preparation. Before complicated operations, the surgical team can practice on an exact 3D printed replica of a patient’s organs so they can map out the exact location of blood vessels as well as the diseased parts that need to be removed, and thus minimize risks during the actual procedure.
3D printing is also being applied in the production of sterile surgical instruments like forceps, hemostats, scalpel handles, and clamps. These instruments can be custom designed and precision 3D printed for use in tiny areas, at significantly lower cost.
Finally, at the frontier of healthcare is bioprinting, or creating human tissues and organs. Layers of living cells or bio ink are used to replicate normal human anatomy. For example, for burn victims, 3D printed skin grafts can be applied directly to repair damaged skin areas.
Scientists have actually already successfully printed viable human organs. Way back in 1999, a functioning bladder was successfully grown from a 3D printed artificial scaffold seeded with cells from the patient. This was then successfully transplanted without serious complications.
Advances are being made in 3D bioprinted organs like the kidney, liver, heart valves, etc. Using their own stem cells as the bio ink material to avoid transplant rejection and other complications, it is not inconceivable that humans will be able to order replacement body parts for worn out organs much as we now do for our cars.
Words by Maribelle Alba
Also published in Gadgets Magazine March 2021 Issue