Scientists Built a Machine from Lego That Can Grow Human Skin
Sourcing human tissue samples for biological investigations isn't always easy. While they are ethically obtained through organ donation or from tissue that's removed during surgical procedures, scientists are finding them increasingly difficult to get hold of.
And it's not just because there's a limited supply of human tissue samples. There's also restricted availability of the specific size and type of tissue samples needed for the many projects taking place at any given time.
Scientists from Cardiff University have used the globally-adored toy to build a 3D printer capable of creating layers of skin cells, with the hope that one day it will be able to print a full-scale skin model.
We got to work on our own affordable, high-spec bioprinter in a corner of our Cardiff lab using standard Lego bricks, their mechanical sub-brand, Lego Mindstorms and a lab pump, which is a device commonly found in research labs. A multidisciplinary team of engineers and biologists worked together to design, engineer, construct and program our bioprinter.
Still in its infancy, our bioprinter, which cost £500 (US$624) to build, achieves the required level of precision to produce delicate biological material. The way it does this is remarkably simple.
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