The
company L'Oreal has considered the possibity of use 3D printed hair
follicles as implants, and that's why it has partnered with the
bio-printing company Poietis, which has already created some
cell-based objects.
Even though, as they say,
it is too early to be getting excited, they believe that maybe in a
period of three years the process of printing hair follicles will be
possible and adapted.
If everything goes as it
is planned, after having printed hair follicles they expect to be
able to study them and to answer some questions about hair loss, in
order to fight and prevent it.
If they are able to get
this, the next step will be to implant those follicles. They will use
a specific technique that has been already used by Poietis several
times, which allows the printing of organic material. This technique
uses a laser and requires a previous digital map, the needed printing
tools and a quite complex method, and Poietis says it normally takes
about 10 minutes to print a small piece of skin, but in the hair
follicles case it will take more because of its complexity.
The charity Alopecia UK
stated that this is a good idea and it's fantastic that an enterprise
is using money and time to help the people with hair loss problems,
but they also think it is too early to get excited about it. And
also, they are concerned about the price the treatment will have, in
case it becomes a reality, because it will probably be possible only
for a few people.
PERSONAL OPINION
I totally agree with
Alopecia UK, I think it is very interesting and it is good that a
company is studying the hair loss and working on the prevention and
solution for it. But in case this is finally a possible, not everyone
will be able to afford it, and it will only be available for some
people.
But even though that will
maybe be a problem in the future, I still believe this is a good
initiative and helpful to explore it. Because I think that, once it
has been possible and they know how to do it, they can try to find a
way to make it cheaper, so more people can afford it and benefit from
it.
VOCABULARY
· Tissue: teixit muscular, múscul
· Droplet: goteta
· Nozzle: tovera (boquilla)
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