Out on a limb

Abstract

Europe is going its own way in the development of next generation of bioengineered materials. Research is turning sci-fi movies into reality, with possibilities for hybrid generation of skin, cartilage, bone, ligament, tendon, blood vessels, nerve and liver cells. Critical areas include the development of biodegradable scaffolds on which a patient's own skin is grown. A high-accuracy stereolithographic laser process is developed to build models for medical imaging to help pinpoint tumour location and size and for reconstruction post-operative surgery. These emerging technologies promise faster, less invasive, more effective and cheaper patient treatment globally. By supporting the development of such advanced materials, European research is enhancing the competitiveness of the industry.