It depends on your application. What resolution do you need? What kind of biomaterials? In medicine, some print with living cells others use hydro-gels to print scaffolds for instance.

- Organovo: exVive3D™

- Regenova: Bioprinters

- Advanced Solutions: BioAssemblyBot

- Bio3D: Life-Printer X

and many more.

.. and others print edible objects/food with DIY printers.

1- Electron Beam Melting (EBM) used with titanium alloys Titanium is a bio compatible metal used for dental implants

2- ZCorp 510 prints in starch powder and resin - I have tested the bio-compatibility of both the ink and the starch, they are not toxic

Hi Abdulaziz! 

If you are working in the field of Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering, the 3D Printers mentioned by Ronald are the way to go. Although, unless your Research Lab has sufficient funding, it would be hard to get your hands on any of those (they are expensive).  

Besides, a new American startup company BioBots has launched their own Bio-Prototyping system (http://www.biobots.io/). When in production (currently, it's in pre-order stage) it would be priced at a mere $5,000 (one of the lowest priced 3D Printers that I know of, which could be used in the aforementioned fields).

Although, according to Bio3D,  they will lease the 'Printer X' starting at a cost of around $2390 USD. This is another alternate, should you be limited in terms of funding. 

Regards, 

Mohit 

Take a look at EnvisionTec's 3D Bioplotter

http://envisiontec.com/3d-printers/3d-bioplotter/

Perhaps to also review Bioprinter Alpha | 3Dynamic Systems Ltd

Good luck!

http://www.bioprintingsystems.com/bioprinter-alpha.html

I second the EnvisionTec 3D bioplotter, we use one here at Swansea.  It can handle a wide range of fluids, and is well suited to natural materials.

I would check out the BioBot! (www.biobots.com) multi-extruder device that can handle an array of biomaterials, and reasonably priced

www.biobots.com

Check out CELLINK. https://www.cellink.com/bioprinting/

Advanced extrusion printing with up to 6 printheads and also light-based bioprinting systems for higher resolution.

Dear Abdulaziz S Alaboodi,

Bioprinting is still in its early stages, where many researchers have proved the feasibility of 3D printing a functional organ in a laboratory. There is a hope for advancement in use of these biomaterials/bioinks from labs to clinical trials, and eventually, in everyday clinical practice. The ability of the 3D printer to fabricate tissues/organs from the host cells will reduce the immune response of the implant, and in turn, reduce tissue rejection.

The success of an implant depends on the type of biomaterial used for its fabrication. An ideal implant material should be biocompatible, inert, mechanically durable, and easily moldable. The ability to build patient specific implants incorporated with bioactive drugs, cells, and proteins has made 3D printing technology revolutionary in medical and pharmaceutical fields. Varieties of biomaterials are being used in medical 3D printing, including metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. With continuous R&D in biomaterials used in 3D printing, rapid growth has been seen in applications of 3D printing in manufacturing customized implants, prostheses, drug delivery devices, and 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

But, there are limited numbers of biodegradable polymers available for 3D printing. Most of these 3D printing biomaterials are used for either drug delivery or space-filling implantation purposes. Therefore, there is a major need for research to fabricate novel biopolymers with matching bio-properties and that can restore functionality at the site of application. Inexpensive, readily available lactic acid based polymers (such as PLA and PCL) are focused on, mainly due to their abilities to perform well in most types of 3D printing technologies.

Implantable 3D-printed organs could be coming sooner than you think. Without functioning capillary structures, it is impossible to make organs. They're the most vital piece of the puzzle in the quest to print viable hearts, livers, kidneys and lungs. Additive manufacturing has been used to produce hearing aids, replacement limbs, surgical implants, and detailed models of organs, bones, and blood cells. Access to this technology has greatly advanced the potentials of the medical field.

Polyjet printing

This is also a capable printing machine for additive manufacturing with high resolution objects with varied modular strengths can be 3D printed with high dimensional accuracy using polyjet technique. UV source is right next to the jetting nozzle cures the resin instantaneously and post-processing of the construct will not be necessitated. This technology is relatively new to the additive manufacturing field. Many types of photopolymers, such as ABS like, Veroclear, Verodent, and Fullcure are commercially available for use in polyjet printing. Polyjet 3D printer contains (A) Nozzle spraying photopolymer; (B) UV source; (C) Supporting material.

Some suitable materials, process, tests and findings models

1. Material-Multiple photopolymers and Objet 350 Connex

Process-Materials with different rigidity were used to mimic native tissue’s mechanical properties

Test Model-Different models such as hollow aneurysm, craniocerebral aneurysm, and craniocerebral tumors

Key findings-Aneurysm clippings and tumor resection planning were efficiently planned with these models

2. Materilas- Multiple photopolymers and Objet studio

Process-Materials with different flexibilities were used-

Test Model- 50 patients were randomly chosen to explain medical procedure using 3D printed model

Key findings- 3D printed model of nasal sinus anatomy was used as educational tool to enable patients to make informed decision. Results suggest improved patient comfort levels and outcomes.

3. Materials-Projet 3512 HD

Process-Rigid material was used to create molds for nephrology sectioning

Test Model- 5 patient specific slicing guides were 3D printed for partial nephrectomy

Key findings-Enabled accurate sectioning of tumors for colocalization analysis for radiomic and radiogenomic analyses

Ashish