Tissue manufacturing might become easier than ever thanks of acoustophoretic printing. Researchers at Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a printing process that uses sound waves to print liquid droplets.

Traditionally, printers relied on gravity to form and place ink drops, which limited the types of material they could use. These liquid droplets will help manufacture many new biopharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food.

Soundwaves generate a controllable force that pulls individual droplets from the nozzle once it reaches a certain size. After this, it is ejected towards the printing target.

Although many industries will profit from this new technology, pharmaceuticals will be one of the top beneficiaries.

“This industry is moving rapidly toward 3D tissue models. Our cell-laden droplets would enable this platform. There are also opportunities to create new drug formulations for delivery of biologics and cell therapies.”

Researchers are already hoping to commercialise their printing method in the future.

Reference

• Mashable. (https://mashable.com/video/printer-sound-waves-human-tissue/?europe=true#2wl0w58IXgqZ). 11 September, 2019. Kevin Urgiles. A Crazy-cool New Printer Could Change The Way We Print Human Tissue.
• Design News. (https://www.designnews.com/materials-assembly/sound-used-print-liquid-droplets-first-time/94722809559466). October 09, 2018. Elizabeth Montalbano. Sound Is Used To Print Liquid Droplets For The First Time.