The production of the three-dimensional (3D) bioprinter, which is produced by the Near East University NEU 3D Laboratory and to be used in tissue engineering and drug research, has recently been completed.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, recently, the NEU has completed the production and testing phases of the 3D bioprinter and the Near East University will thus be initiating research on cells and tissue cultures in 2019. Providing further details, it was revealed that the device's hardware and software required for the basic 3D biomarkers were completed, motion and coordinate tests have been successfully completed. It was also explained that 3D printers are used to produce structures that mimic the natural tissue characteristics by combining living cells with biomaterials via 3D printing techniques.

In addition to the above, tissue and cell engineering highly values cutting edge 3D bioprinters and within its geographical location, NEU3D Laboratory is the first laboratory to own a 3D bioprinter. It was stated that the design of the 3D bioprinter device was made by Ersin Aytaç and Emil Mammadov; production and assembly by Ersin Aytaç Ali Türk, Gökhan Bürge and Ertunç Kırgül; electric and electronical parts by
Görkem Say and Berk Yılmaz; and software by Nurullah Akkaya and Tolga Yırtıcı.

Cell and Tissue Culture Studies will be initiated…
Providing details regarding the project, Assoc Prof Dr Emil Mammadov, stated that the design of the device, production and testing phases have all been completed with the past two years and announced that cell and tissue culture studies are to be soon initiated. Furthermore, he stated that the motion and coordinate tests of the device, equipment and software have been completed and with the support of Prof. Dr. Seda Vatansever, Assoc. Prof Dr. Eda Becer and Assoc Prof Dr. Terin Adalı, they were planning on commencing cell culture and 3D bio-production.

In addition to the above, Assoc Prof Dr. Mammadov, expressed that with this project, they have now owned the most significant device needed for tissue engineering, bio-materials, cancer and drug research fields. Also, he emphasised that research on innovative biomaterials will be started and that he strongly believed that they will be making significant contributions to this field. He pointed out that currently, 3D bio-production is used to produce tissue and tissue-like structures to assist many investigations, and this is achieved by biosynthesis of living cells placed in a three-dimensional natural hydrogel layer to produce the desired tissue or organ.

Near East University used its own resources…
Indicating that many research centres in the world have manufactured their own 3D biosensor, Assoc Prof Dr. Mammadov stated that the project was submitted to the Near East University so as to be one of the first centres to adopt this innovative approach in this region and resultantly, the Near East University authorities decided to support the project with its own resources in 2016.