Researchers Build 3D Printer That Makes Tissue-Like Material

carmendrahl writes "3-D printers don't build only solid objects anymore. They also build liquid objects, thanks to a research team at the University of Oxford. The group custom crafted a 3-D printer to squirt tiny liquid droplets from its nozzles. The 3-D patterned droplets can mimic biological tissues, such as nerve fibers, and may have potential in tissue engineering applications. An expert not involved with the study is cautious about endorsing the tissue engineering applications because they're not yet demonstrated, but praises the team for extending 3-D printing to new classes of materials."

Imagine this!

[140Mandak262Jamuna]

Imagine building building out a structure about 2 inches in diameter and about a foot or two in length. It is made up of buckyballs, made of rubber walls. Inside of the balls are filled with a magnetized fluid, some kind of polymer that reacts to magnetic field. When an electric field is applied all these polymers curl up tight and become small in volume. when it is removed they will allow themselves to be stretched out. That would be the artificial muscle, with ability to pull in and allow itself to be stretched out.