Researchers at Manchester University (UK) have developed a printer able to produce human skin to help wounds heal.

Using the same principle as an ink-jet printer, experts take skin cells from a patient’s body, put them into a special printer ink liquid, multiply them, then print out a tailor-made strip of skin, ready to be sewn on to the body. The wound’s dimensions are entered into the printer to ensure a perfect fit.

The scientists have already created skin and could soon create bone and cartilage as well.

Team leader Professor Brian Derby says that they are still working out how to print cells on to the 3D plastic scaffolds to produce bone or cartilage. “In theory, you could print the scaffolding to create an organ in a day, but we are not quite there yet.”

Via the girl who doesn’t blog enough Manchester News.