Advancements in 3D bioprinting technology are transforming wound care. This innovative medical approach opens unprecedented possibilities for treating complex wounds, particularly with custom wound grafts. Researchers and clinicians are reshaping the future of wound management and patient recovery by utilizing the precision and versatility of 3D printing.

What is 3D bioprinting?

3D bioprinting is a cutting-edge technology that adapts traditional 3D printing methods to create biological constructs. Instead of plastic or metal, bioprinters work with bio-inks— materials often derived from a patient’s own cells—to fabricate tissues and structures. These constructs can be designed to meet specific needs of patients, offering a variety of solutions for medical challenges. 

How Tides Medical APLICOR 3D Utilizes Wound Bioprinting

Tides Medical’s APLICOR 3D focuses on the wound care segment of 3D bioprinting. APLICOR 3D uses a patient’s adipose tissue (fat) to print personalized skin grafts that fit the size and depth of their wounds. The APLICOR 3D process of creating customized skin grafts is simple yet revolutionary. The video below demonstrates how the machine works and creates a 3D bio-printed skin graft for a patient’s wound.

The video shows that the procedure involves preparing a sterile working environment, debriding the wound to ensure cleanliness, and using the AiD Regen Tablet to detect measurements. This specially calibrated tablet determines how much fat the graft needs and creates a 3D file for the printer. 

Next, clinicians harvest the fat, micronize it, and separate the tissues and fluids to prepare it for printing. The harvested fat is bio-ink, and clinicians apply the wound graft with proper dressing.

In wound care, 3D bioprinting produces skin grafts that assist with treatment of chronic wounds seamlessly with a patient’s body. This approach marks a significant advancement over traditional methods that rely on donor tissue or synthetic alternatives.

How 3D Bioprinting is Transforming Wound Treatment

Precision and Customization

One of the most remarkable aspects of 3D bioprinting is its ability to create patient-specific wound grafts. Using imaging technologies, such as the APLICOR 3D technology, clinicians can precisely design grafts that match a wound’s size, shape, and depth. This precision reduces the risk of complications and speeds up the treatment process.

Direct-to-Wound Printing

Unlike traditional graft preparation methods, direct-to-wound bioprinting applies the bio-ink directly to the patient’s wound. This ensures the graft conforms perfectly to the wound’s topography and minimizes material waste. Applying the graft immediately also initiates the treatment process more rapidly.

Benefits

Bio-printed wound grafts improve treatment outcomes by helping to increase patient compliance. Incorporating advanced 3D systems, like APLICOR 3D, in hospital outpatient settings can enhance patient compliance by providing more accurate and efficient wound assessments, reducing the number of visits needed, and minimizing discomfort—making it easier for patients to follow through with treatment plans.

Conclusion

The development of bio-printed wound grafts, primarily through direct-to-wound printing, highlights the transformative potential of this technology. As research progresses and adoption increases, 3D bioprinting is poised to become a cornerstone of modern medicine, providing hope and treatment to patients worldwide.

If you are interested in learning more about the future of wound care technology and how Tides Medical is meeting those needs now with APLICOR 3D, contact Tides today. APLICOR 3D has achieved over 100 successful cases thus far and is making personalized care easily accessible with precise size wound coverings using patient’s own tissues created at the site of care. Tides Medical welcomes you to the future of wound care technology!

Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6266989/pdf/materials-11-02199.pdf

Scholarly article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17425247.2024.2355184

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