Abstract

3D Bioprinting and the Biologicalization of Medicine

William G Whitford, Strategic Solutions Leader, GE Healthcare Life Sciences

The biologicalization of manufacturing is a derivative of the Industry 4.0 initiative and is of growing interest. The biologicalization (or the biological transformation) of manufacturing is essentially the use of digital manufacturing approaches in the incorporation of biological and bio-inspired principles to support more efficient and sustainable manufacturing. The harmonization of digital manufacturing principals with structures from biological systems is yielding bio-inspired materials and constructs for model, tissue and organoid engineering.  3D bioprinting employs the newest developments in cell culture, image import and manipulation and 3D computer model design in its resource-efficient product construction. The goals of sustainability and efficiency in medicine and research is enabled by 3D bioprinting and related nano/micro-technology.