A collaboration of Spanish researchers from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, and BioDan Group, a bioengineering company, have reportedly developed a 3D printer that produces human skin ready for transplantation. Besides obvious applications such as producing replacement skin for burn victims, it can be used to test drugs, new therapies for skin conditions, and for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of cosmetic products. The researchers believe it will function about as well as natural skin and it is already being evaluated by European regulatory agencies for clinical use.
