Published by: Anvi Nayak & Luxmie Gunarajah

Millions of people around the world live with diseases and injuries that have no permanent cure, including conditions like diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and organ failure. Many of these patients rely on managing symptoms or waiting for transplants on endless lists, with no way to repair the damage itself.

Embryonic stem cells may just be the answer.

But what are embryonic stem cells?

Human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent cells, meaning they can become any type of cell in the body, or are otherwise referred to as ‘undifferentiated’ cells. They are made from cells found in early human embryos, before they have been implanted in the uterus. During this pre-implantation stage, the embryo is called a blastocyst.

Human ESCs were first successfully grown in 1998, and under the ideal culture conditions, proved to be able to self-renew continuously, producing more cells like themselves without dying. In fact, human ESCs that have been growing for over 2 years show stable and normal sets of chromosomes, which is a much bigger advancement from the abnormal embryonic cancer cell lines used in the past to study early stages of embryonic development.

The Process

1. The embryonic cell comes from the blastocyst, which forms 4–6 days after fertilization
2. A blastocyst develops when a sperm fertilizes an egg to form a zygote, which then divides multiple times as it grows
3. The blastocyst contains many smaller cells, which scientists isolate to obtain embryonic stem cells
4. These cells are then placed in a sterile laboratory environment where they are able to grow and divide
5. Over time, they multiply to produce large numbers of identical cells, forming what is known as an embryonic stem cell (ESC) line
6. These ESC lines can then be studied and used in applications such as drug testing, disease modelling, and regenerative medicine

Applications and Pros of Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem cells have many important applications in medicine and can help scientists better understand how diseases and conditions develop, resulting in the creation of more effective treatments. These cells can also be used to generate healthy cells for patients who struggle with diseases such as leukemia, Hodgkin disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and solid tumour cancers, as well as anemia, immunodeficiencies and other metabolic disorders. Furthermore, embryonic stem cells are being studied to become treatments for type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, heart failure, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and osteoarthritis.

Additionally, they can also be used to test new drugs, resulting in less animal harm through animal testing. They also have the potential to be used to grow new tissues and organs for transplantation, playing an important role in regenerative medicine and advancements in bioprinting.

A deeper look into how it can help cure some of the diseases above:

• Neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s or spinal cord injuries: Their pluripotency helps replace damaged neurons through new neuron production in controlled conditions. Along with this, ESCs are also able to release growth factors, which can assist in tissue repair along with growth factors. Due to embryonic cells, there may even be a way to repair or improve the damage of neurological illnesses such as Parkinson's, strokes and spinal cord injuries.

• Diabetes: As diabetes is a result of the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells, research shows embryonic cells may be able to regenerate the following cells.

• Heart disease: After someone has experienced a heart attack, they typically obtain a scar which makes it more prevalent for them to obtain another heart attack. But, embryonic cells may be able to repair the damage of the heart attack.

Limitations/Cons

Despite its revolutionary potential, every discovery comes with its own set of limitations. As of now, ESCs:

• Are difficult to direct ESCs to differentiate into a particular cell type
• Can potentially transform into a cancerous tissue/tumours (teratomas)
• Can result in transplantation or immunological mismatch (host rejection happens when the body sees the cells as foreign and attacks, causing the treatment to fail)
• Raise ethical concerns surrounding harvesting cells from a potentially viable embryo
• Raise religious concerns (various religions have different beliefs concerning human embryos)
• Are prohibited from being created for research in certain countries (only permitted to use “spare” embryos from IVF treatments with consent)
• Have long-term safety concerns (the cells can continue to grow/change as time passes)

Ethical Concerns

Determining whether ESCs are ethical or not is based on a variety of beliefs, religions, perspectives, personal morals and ideas. Below are two common perspectives surrounding the idea of ESCs.

• While embryonic cells are extracted, scientists are required to break the outer membrane of the blastocyst. This kills the human embryo, which many argue that it is harming a potential life. This is a similar argument to what many people say about abortion, as this is also damaging and killing a human.
• Many argue that many embryos are left over from IVF treatments, and these embryos should be used for research. There are plenty of people who were excited to learn about this research, as this can potentially cure millions and essentially cause more good than harm.

Laws and regulations:

Many countries allow research on embryos until they reach the age of fourteen days old. However, it is important to ensure that they are obtaining an IVF embryo, as they would typically be going to waste. As mentioned above, many countries, such as Canada, prohibit the production of embryos for research.

An expert in the field:

James Thomson:

James Thomson had been the lead of the team who had successfully grew an embryonic stem cell in 1998.

References

Chapter 7 — Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research. (2019). Hhs.gov. https://ori.hhs.gov/education/products/ucla/chapter7/page01.htm

Coghlan, A. (2015). Stem Cell Timeline. Heart Views : The Official Journal of the Gulf Heart Association, 16(2), 72. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4485209/

Cona, L. A. (2023, September 14). Stem Cell Research Controversy: A Deep Dive (2023). Www.dvcstem.com; DVCSTEM. https://www.dvcstem.com/post/stem-cell-research-controversy

Devitt, T. (2019). Embryonic Stem Cell Fact Sheet. Wisc.edu. https://news.wisc.edu/embryonic-stem-cell-fact-sheet/

Embryonic Stem Cells Pros and Cons: A Comprehensive Analysis — Liv Hospital. (2025, September 17). Liv Hospital. https://int.livhospital.com/embryonic-stem-cells-pros-and-cons/

Euro GCT. (2023). Embryonic stem cells: where do they come from and what can they do? EuroGCT. https://www.eurogct.org/embryonic-stem-cells-where-do-they-come-and-what-can-they-do-0

Harvard Health Publishing. (2013, March 1). Repairing the heart with stem cells — Harvard Health. Harvard Health; Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/repairing-the-heart-with-stem-cells

Health Canada. (2020, February 5). Prohibitions related to scientific research and clinical applications — Canada.ca. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/biologics-radiopharmaceuticals-genetic-therapies/legislation-guidelines/assisted-human-reproduction/prohibitions-scientific-research-clinical-applications.html

Hope on the horizon: Stem cell technology holds promise for Type 1 Diabetes treatment | Vancouver Coastal Health. (2024, January 23). Www.vch.ca. https://www.vch.ca/en/news/hope-horizon-stem-cell-technology-holds-promise-type-1-diabetes-treatment

How are embryonic stem cell lines made and grown? (2007). Nature Reports Stem Cells, -. https://doi.org/10.1038/stemcells.2007.17

Leventhal, A., Chen, G., Negro, A., & Boehm, M. (2011). The benefits and risks of stem cell technology. Oral Diseases, 18(3), 217–222. National Library of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1601-0825.2011.01870.x

Mayo Clinic. (2024, March 23). Stem Cells: What They Are and What They Do. Mayo Clinic; Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-depth/stem-cells/art-20048117

National Library of Medicine. (2002). Embryonic Stem Cells. Nih.gov; National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223690/

NIH. (2016). Stem Cell Basics. Stemcells.nih.gov; National Institutes of Health. https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/stc-basics

Ooi, J., & Liu, P. (2012). Pluripotency and its layers of complexity. Cell Regeneration, 1(1), 1:7. https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-9769-1-7

Park, S. J., Kim, Y. Y., Han, J. Y., Kim, S. W., Kim, H., & Ku, S.-Y. (2024). Advancements in Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Clinical Applications and Ethical Issues. Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-024-00627-3

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2018). James Thomson | American biologist. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Thomson-American-biologist

Wu, Y.-P., Chen, W.-S., Teng, C., & Zhang, N. (2010). Stem Cells for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Molecules, 15(10), 6743–6758. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules15106743

Another important lesson that 2025 taught me is that growth is not only something found in academics, but in hobbies, mindset and moments spent with family. This year, I had the opportunity to explore many interests, which led me to learn how to prioritize what mattered most to me.

January

January 2nd marked the official kickoff of my chocolate-covered strawberry business, something that started as a love for baking and slowly transformed into a project that explored entrepreneurship, sales and marketing. I learned to price products, promote, manage orders and how to communicate with customers. It was exciting and taught me that creativity should be balanced with planning.

At the same time, I experienced my first exam season in high school. It wasn’t as bad as I thought, but I had lots to balance and quickly adapted to the fast-paced review for each class. My classes required different projects and skills, meaning I had to learn to use all my abilities together. For instance, in my technology class, I applied my skills in woodworking to build a model of a greenhouse and a soccer stadium, while in geography, I learned to make notes that helped me review all the units quickly. I learned how to plan my days in advance, how to study for different subjects and what study methods worked best for me.

February

February was all about exploring new fields of interest and building projects. Through my journey at TKS, I made significant progress on my projects focused on bioprinting. This topic interested me as it involves medicine, enginerring and regenerative techniques that seem far away, but are closer than you think. One of the highlights was creating a simulation of a bioprinted heart, which helped me better understand how structure and precision come together in bioprinting processes.

This month was a month of progress in not only my own projects at TKS but the program itself. I learned and applied a lot of skills in a variety of fields, including business, engineering and medicine, and got the chance to work with many like-minded people. I also learned how to cold-email, network, pitch ideas to large businesses and how to build life-long connections that would help me get where I want to.

March

March was full of planning and learning new skills that will last a lifetime. I celebrated my birthday, but I also spent a lot of time planning my dad’s surprise birthday party. From budgeting and financing to coordinating logistics and designing invites, the experience taught me real-life skills that go far beyond the classroom. I also made my first batch of 250 chocolate-covered strawberries to bring to the event, which helped me visualize how I would purchase, produce and transport the items in a real-life business scenario. On top of that, I choreographed a dance routine for the party, combining creativity with leadership and planning.

For my business, I ran a giveaway that brought many new customers and increased social media engagement. It showed me the power of strategic marketing and how I could use that to my advantage.

April

April was full of memorable firsts, including my dad’s milestone birthday, my first Raptors game, and my first pig dissection. I had lots of fun planning his birthday throughout march and seeing it come together in April was rewarding and was a night full of memories. I had cousins who travelled from various countries to be there, so the weeks leading up to his birthday were eventful as well. Dissecting a pig was an incredibly experience, and deepened my interest in anatomy and medicine.

From a business perspective, April marked an expansion. I started selling cheesecakes along with my strawberries, which brought a lot of new customers and interest.

May

In May, I spent the month planning for the SDG Change Challenge, where my friends and I designed a water recycling system for countries in poverty. My team and I won the award of Prototype Champion and won 1st place. It was incredibly rewarding, not only because I won, but because it made me realize that my ideas and problem-solving skills could contribute to real-world problems beyond myself.

June

June was intense but rewarding. I participated in the TKS showcase, earned my certificate of completion, pitched a project to a panel of well-esteemed judges in the Deloitte building in Toronto and took part in a vendor fair at my school. At the same time, I was navigating summatives and final exams. For my pitch, I got the chance to design a website, write an article and create a one-pager to show to the judges, including:

Wen Bo: Kepler (3D Design & Space)
Margot Ghersin: Wolf Scholars (Business Strategy)
Purya Sarmad: YC & Medme Health (Startups)

The vendor fair at my school was an amazing chance to sell products at school without delivery issues, boosting sales and increasing profit. I partnered with a friend and sold goods, winning the third-most popular booth overall!

July

July was full of chaos and excitement. A large family function brought cousins from England, filling the month (and my house) with excitement, loud voices and fun. I also spent two weeks in July volunteering at the Summer STAR program, where I volunteered as a mentor for incoming Grade 9 students through the Summer STAR Program, helping Grade 8 students transition into high school. I supported them during summer camp activities and had lots of fun myself!

August

August was all about preparation. I enrolled in a CPR and First Aid course, where I had an 8-hour in-person session and online portions. Earning my CPR and First Aid certification was a proud moment, as it’s a practical skill I need. I also rejoined music classes after taking a break. Returning to something so familiar that I’ve done since I was four years old felt comforting, and it felt good to get back into the routine of weekly classes again.

September

September marked the start of the school year and a shift into leadership. I was offered executive positions in our school’s student activity council, TSA (Tamil Student Association), UNICEF, French club and Entrepreneurship club. I accepted the role as event coordinator for student council, TSA and French club, which were clubs that aligned with my goals. I had so much fun making new friends through these clubs and appreciated the opportunity to put my event coordinating skills to use, something I’ve been incredibly passionate about ever since planning my dad’s birthday.

October

October pushed me further into leadership and public engagement. I helped host a seminar for my father’s business, gaining confidence in professional communication and event coordination. I coordinated seating, attendance, handed out flyers and provided snacks. Along with planning for the seminar, I helped the TSA club organize many general member meetings that ran smoothly and brought a lot of club engagement.

This month, I also got the opportunity to perform at the temple, where I sang Carnatic music from the classes I recently rejoined. It was slightly nerve-racking at the start as I hadn’t sung in front of a crowd in a long time, but it was rewarding once I was done and was surprisingly exciting!

November

November was all over the place, and I was preparing for a variety of things. I practiced a lot more for music and plan on taking my vocal exam soon. I also focused on HOSA preparation and explored new hobbies such as baking, reading and painting. I also took the OSSLT, a grade ten literacy test that’s a graduation requirement. I continued following a steady rhythm of work, free time and exploration that felt balanced and productive.

December

December closed the year with reflection and expansion. I travelled to Puerto Plata, DR with my cousins, which was an unforgettable experience. I had so much fun, visited lots of incredible locations and enjoyed the change of weather. Once I returned from vacation, I finished up an experiment and wrote a research article.

2025 taught me that progress isn’t one big moment. From entrepreneurship and science to leadership and creativity, every little moment mattered, shaping a year I’ll always be proud of.

Originally published at https://luxmiegunarajah.substack.com.

A cancer diagnosis can forever change not only your life, but also those around you. 59-year-old Lorne Cochrane, a cancer survivor, shares that “A lung cancer diagnosis can be paralyzing. You need an ally who can go along the journey with you, no one person can battle lung cancer alone.”

But what is non-medical cancer care?

Non-medical cancer care refers to the supportive services that help patients cope with the emotional, social and practical challenges of cancer. These supports are used along with conventional medical procedures to improve overall well-being, mental health and quality of life.

While non-medical support in cancer care may not play a direct role in curing the cancer itself, it helps cope with stress, pain, fear and uncertainty. Mental health services, cancer centers, housing programs, and community resources address the parts of cancer treatment that medicine can’t reach

Why is it important?

2 in 5 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. This means almost every family will be affected directly or indirectly by the physical, emotional and financial impacts of the disease. Cancer is not just a medical condition, but often brings anxiety, stress, depression, social isolation and disruptions to everyday life.

Non-medical cancer care plays a critical role in addressing these challenges. Emotional support, counselling, peer connections, housing assistance and practical resources reduce stress, help patients manage treatment side efects and maintain quality of life. When patients have access to these supports, they can focus on recovery rather than worry, feel les isolates and gain the resilience needed to navigate the tough journey of cancer treatment.

Ultimately, non-medical care complements medical treatment by supporting the whole person, not just the disease.

Alternative cancer treatments and options to consider

In addition to treatments like chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, many patients benefit from supportive care that focuses on the mental, practical and emotional aspects of cancer treatment. This combined approach is called integrative care, where therapies are used along with standard cancer treatments rather than completely replacing them. According to Mayo Clinic, these approaches are not meant to cure the cancer, but they can help reduce treatment side effects and improve quality of life during and after care.

Mental health support is especially significant, as a cancer diagnosis often brings anxiety, fear, depression and emotional overload. Approaches such as counselling, therapy and other methods of relaxation are commonly recommended to help patients manage stress. Meditation, breathing exercises and stretching can also help reduce fatigue, improve sleep and mood. Music therapy is also included.

Access to counselling, behavioural health and support groups gives patients practical tools to cope, express emotions and feel less alone. Supports with funding, housing and transport also alleviate unnecessary stress and worry. Peer support spaces allow patients to connect with others who understand their experience, reducing isolation and building resilience. When emotional and supportive care is provided alongside medical treatment, patients are often better able to handle the physical demands of therapy, stay engaged with their treatment plans and maintain a stronger overall sense of well-being throughout recovery.

Meet 13-year-old Sophia.

Sophia is a young teen from Timmins, Ontario, who was often forced to leave her home and school behind for cancer treatment in Toronto. When her hair fell out during chemo, staying at Ronald McDonald House Toronto made things feel less scary, as she wasn’t the only kid going through treatment and was able to make friends and find a community within her temporary home. She was able to attend school at the House. Fighting cancer for the second time alongside her mom must be difficult; however, Sophia says that “RMHC Toronto really is a second home”.

The Ronald McDonald House Toronto played a vital role in ensuring that Sophia felt comfortable and made her patient experience less frightening and more supportive. Sophia even states that the House feels like a safe place because it isn’t stressful or full of sad looks, just support and understanding from people who treat her like any other kid. Beyond simply giving her and her mother a place to sleep, the House provided a stable environment, access to learning, peer connection and emotional comfort during long periods of treatment far from home. Without these supports in place, she would not have been able to afford a hotel near the hospital, adding financial pressure and stress to an already difficult situation.

Stories like Sophia’s show why non-medical cancer care is essential. Housing support, community spaces and family-centred services reduce stress, protect mental health and allow patients and caregivers to focus on healing rather than surviving and the many logistics behind it. Non-medical care does not replace treatment, but it strengthens a patient’s ability to get through it.

The role of organizations: Canadian Cancer Society

Healing the person, not just the disease.

The role of organizations in cancer support is to ensure patients have access to accommodations and anything that would make their experience less stressful. Beyond medical treatment, people living with cancer and their families often benefit from practical assistance, trusted infromation and community resources to help manage life during and after cancer treatment. Support organizations step in where clinical care isn’t able to offer certain assists, such as peer support, transportation help, housing resources and resilience programs, so that patients aren’t deserted.

The Canadian Cancer Society provides a nationwide support system for people with cancer, survivors, caregivers and families by answering questions, offering a toll-free information helpline, and connecting people to trusted resources/services. There are various resources available, including virtual options, publications, free chats with information specialists, and other methods of connection through their website.

Their services:

Find child, youth and family supports (summer camps and year-round recreation programs)

• Get a wig/breast prosthesis
• Connect with our online community
• Find accommodation at one of our lodges during cancer treatment
• Find services in our community: a database of over 4,500 cancer-related services nationwide
• Contact our Cancer Information Helpline at 1–888–939–3333
• Get help to quit smoking
• Get transportation to cancer treatment
• Peer support group facilitator training program

Their programs are designed to help people cope emotionally, find connection, build resilience and manage life with cancer. They include financial aid, support for anyone in Canada (including newcomers and refugees) and provide support in various languages.

References

design. (2021, April 7). “RMHC Toronto really is a second home” — Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto. Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto. https://ronaldmcdonaldhousetoronto.ca/news-stories/rmhc-toronto-really-is-a-second-home/?utm

Lee, S. (2025). How we can help. Canadian Cancer Society. https://cancer.ca/en/living-with-cancer/how-we-can-help

Lorne Cochrane. (2016). Lung Cancer Canada. https://lungcancercanada.ca/stories-of-inspiration/lorne-cochrane/

Mayo Clinic. (2022, January 27). 11 alternative cancer treatments to consider. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cancer-treatment/in-depth/cancer-treatment/art-20047246

Ronald McDonald House® South Central Ontario. (2026). Ronaldmcdonaldhousesco.ca. https://www.ronaldmcdonaldhousesco.ca/site/fundraise?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23457283870&gbraid=0AAAAA-77S2y7Fy_kitet38iGFl9yeP8tA&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4pvMBhDYARIsAGfgwvwcB9IqXecCPy8-xT9AeTGFmkF_n0PDnvONbdHBeLzjcQZ43PvWNAkaAjXFEALw_wcB

As the field of bioprinting continues to expand and push boundaries in regenerative medicine, understanding the science behind processes like curing and suspension is critical. These aren’t just simple terms, but key steps for how tissues are formed, how biomaterials interact and of course, are the foundation of the future of printing organs. Hence, I decided to explore two materials that are used in biomanufacturing: sodium alginate and UV resin.

Understanding curing and suspension:

Curing:

Curing is a chemical process where materials transform from a fluid state to a solid. In bioprinting, curing is necessary to stabilize any printed structures, so that is it able to solidify and form whatever shape it needs to take. This chemical reaction is typically created by heat, light or other radiation. In 3D printing, photopolymerization is most commonly used, where resin is exposed to a wavelength of light (often UV), form solid layers.

When looking at practical applications, curing is also used in many fields to create mechanical properties such as strength, durability and stability. Dental aligners, hearing aids and even products in the aerospace and automotive industries heavily rely on curing processes to ensure that their parts meet the quality and performance needed for their product.

Photopolymerization:

The process of photopolymerization involves a liquid that is cured by a heat source in layers until a 3D object is built. Lasers are one of the oldest techniques for curing, and is the very base of multiple types of curing devices. Digital Light Processing projectors and LCD screens are also modern, low-cost and popular methods to achieve the same results.

Suspension

Suspension is the distribution of particles or materials within a medium, where they don’t fully dissolve, but are evenly dispersed. In bioprinting, hydrogels like soldium alginate are used to suspend living cells, proteins or nanoparticles during printing.

Suspension acts as a solid at rest but flows like a liquid when force is applied (ex, like a printing nozzle), which is what prevents printed structures from collapsing under gravity.

The process:

• A printing nozzle moves through a bath of the suspension medium
• The force of the nozzle temporarily causes the medium to fluidize, which displaces and deposits the bioink
• After the nozzle moves, the suspension medium solidifies, holding the deposited bioink in its location precisely
• This process allows to print intricate, detailed structures

My Process

To further explore the scientific principles behind curing and suspension in bioprinting, I conducted experiments using sodium alginate powder and UV resin. These materials are well-suited for this experiment as sodium alginate is commonly used in bioprinting as a bioink, and UV resin allows precise curing that is often seen in bioprinting and tissue engineering.

Materials Used:

Sodium Alginate Powder: served as a “bioink”

Calcium Chloride: crosslinking agent

UV resin: another “bioink”, cures into solid structures

UV flashlight: light source, initiates polymerization in the UV resin

Distilled water: used to dissolve the sodium alginate

Syringes/pipettes: precision tools, mimics bioprinter nozzle

Petri dishes: contains experiment for observation

Now, for the actual step-by-step process 😅

Phase 1: Exploring Sodium Alginate

1. Creating the Alginate solution

For the alginate solution, I added 1 tsp to 1/4 cup of distilled water. I stirred for about 4 minutes until the powder was completely dissolved in the water and created a thick gel-like substance.

2. Adding the “cells” to the alginate solution

Once the alginate solution was ready, I added beads into the gel-like substance, which stayed suspended within the solution, mimicking the living cells that would be suspended in the bioink when printing.

3. Making the Calcium Chloride solution

Similar to the alginate solution, I dissolved 1 tsp of calcium chloride into 1/4 cup of distilled water. When the structures are completed, this solution will be poured over it to cure the layers.

4. Formation of structures

The alginate solution was drawn into pipette bottles and syringes, allowing me to create precise shapes. I drew a simple shape into the petri dish and noticed that the cells (in this case, beads) spread evenly throughout the design.

5. Curing

After the shape was made, I added the calcium chloride solution into the petri dish. Upon contact, the sodium alginate solution gelled into its shape, turning into a solid. It held the beads in its place and was cured into its final form, which is what would occur with bioinks when cured to create structures.

Phase 2: UV resin Curing

1. Formation of structures

• transfer the UV resin to a syringe with a nozzle to mimic the bioprinter nozzle
• optional: add food colouring to better see results
• pipe shapes into the petri dish

2. UV light exposure

• use the UV flashlight to cure the resin (flash over resin for about 30 seconds or until solid)

Observations

• Alginate structure formed instantly
• Gel consistency changed over time (got thicker)
• Resin cured completely within 30 seconds
• Resin was rigid, alginate was soft

Real-World Connections

Tissue scaffolding: UV resin mimics the framework used to hold shapes in bioprinting

Cell encapsulation: The alginate experiment represents hydrogels/bioinks used to embed live cells in them

Working with these materials helped me understand how important timing and chemical compatibility are during printing and the importance of curing for maintaining structural integrity, precision and shape.

Reflection:

Through this experiment, I gained a deeper understanding of how curing and suspension are essential to bioprinting. By working with sodium alginate and UV resin, I was able to model how bioinks stabilize and how cells can be helped in precise shapes during printing. The sodium alginate demonstrated how bioinks can suspend cells and rapidly solidify, even with difficult processes like crosslinking. On the other hand, UV resin highlighted the technology of photopolymerization, which achieves fast and precise results. Observing the differences in the two materials, including their flexibility versus rigidity and other properties, emphasized how wide the range of bioprinting can be. Overall, bioprinting relies on balancing suspension and curing to maintain shape and functionality, making these processes fundamental to regenerative medicine.

Works Cited

IOPscience. “Biofabrication in Suspension Media for Tissue Engineering and in Vitro Modelling — IOPscience.” Iop.org, 2024, iopscience.iop.org/collections/bf-231124–421. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.

OpenAI. “ChatGPT.” ChatGPT, OpenAI, 2025, chatgpt.com/.

“Photopolymerization.” Dassault Systèmes, 21 Dec. 2021, www.3ds.com/make/guide/process/photopolymerization.

“Photopolymerization — an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.” Sciencedirect.com, 2016, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/photopolymerization.

polySpectra. “What Is Curing? Understanding the Process and Its Importance.” Polyspectra.com, 11 June 2024, polyspectra.com/what-is-curing/.

Introduction to Bioprinting

Bioprinting is a groundbreaking technology with the ability to change human life as we know it today. It involves the usage of bio-inks, creating living cells and various supporting materials that mimic the structures and functions of organs or tissues.

Bioprinting relies on its precision, compatibility and functionality. To successfully bioprint an organ/tissue, Bio-ink must be deposited in complex structures to recreate intricate anatomical parts. My project serves to simulate this experience on an accessible scale using similar methods.

My process

To replicate the process of bioprinting, I decided to focus on recreating one of the most vital organs in the human body; the heart.

Materials:

I used a variety of techniques and materials including:

• Gelatin: used to mimic bio-ink due to its similarity in texture and properties to hydrogel-based materials
• Food Colouring: to represent the various parts of the heart, specifically oxygenated & non-oxygenated blood
• Syringes with nozzle attachments: that mimic a bioprinter nozzle (which is similar to a precise, small tube that deposits bio-ink)
• Heart Mold: assists in creating an intricate, layered heart model, ensuring anatomical accuracy (and mimicking scaffolds and suspension methods used in real bioprinting processes)
• Mixing tools/bowls: to create the “bio-ink” and execute this experiment

Step 1: Formulating “bio-ink”

Understanding bio-inks and their similarity to gelatin:

Bio-inks are materials made of living cells and various substances to mimic tissues and organ structures. When formulating a bio-ink, it is important to consider its biocompatibility, viscosity and integrity. A functioning bio-ink must be able to fully support cell growth while enduring good consistency to allow precise printing.

Hydrogel-based bio-inks are most commonly used when bioprinting due to their high water content and support for cell growth. Gelatin is incredibly similar to this material due to its similarities to proteins in the human body (due to its source of collagen). In addition, its texture is gel-like, providing an amazing substitute with ideal support, biocompatibility and viscosity that mimics organ and tissue production.

Using gelatin to create bio-ink for my project

1: Dissolving the gelatin:

I dissolved gelatin in warm water over a stove to begin creating my bio-ink. I constantly stirred to ensure the gelatin dissolved evenly, creating the smooth and gel-like substance needed.

2: Adding colour:

To visually differentiate oxygenated and non-oxygenated blood, I coloured the gelatin in two different portions:

• Oxygenated blood (red colouring): I used red food colouring to represent the oxygen-rich blood that flows through the heart, showcasing how the heart would look when functioning
• Non-oxygenated blood (blue colouring): The blue food colouring represents the oxygen-depleted blood

3: Consistency and reheating:

As gelatin sets incredibly fast, I had to reheat the mixture multiple times to be able to work with its liquid form, helping the gelatin hold its correct shape when put in the mold.

Step 2: Mimicking Bioprinting techniques (Layering)

Structure & shape:

One of the most important aspects of bioprinting lies in precision. In real bioprinting processes, bio-inks are deposited in precise layers from a nozzle connected to a 3D printer. The small nozzle ensures that each layer is deposited in clean, even layers. This method creates a strong structure and helps mimic the delicate structures of natural organs.

Recreating printing processes:

To mimic the layering process, I used syringes with nozzle attachments as a substitute for a bioprinting nozzle. These syringes allowed for controlled and precise deposition of the “bio-ink”, almost identical to the way a bioprinter dispenses ink in patterns.

After creating my gelatin bio-ink, I filled one syringe with red liquid and the other with blue. Then, I slowly filled the veins with the blue ink and continued dispensing layers. After dispensing each layer, I placed the mold in the fridge for two minutes to solidify. This ensured the layers held their structure and separated each part of the intricate organ.

Step 3: Curing and layering processes (challenges and difficulties)

• Precision: Continuously dispensing in perfect layers, especially when layering the veins was incredibly difficult, and I often had to restart. At times, the layers would mix or if the gelatin was too liquidy, it would slip and wouldn’t set right, creating a messy look.
• Layering without air bubbles: When using syringes to dispense, the pressure often forced air bubbles in the mold, creating uneven and opaque layers, which was problematic when creating precise layers.
• Curing: As the gelatin set, it often was liquidy in the middle or was too rigid to work with, meaning I had to reheat the mixture while keeping the mold in the fridge every five minutes. This created a bit of a hassle when trying to layer as the layers would mix or wouldn’t cooperate.

Using syringes and nozzles to replicate this technique demonstrated how layering is crucial for organ replication, and how difficult is it to create these complex structures.

Observations & Results; Key Takeaways

1: Gelatin layering

• Sucessful layer formation: The gelatin formed distinct layers, similar to the layering technique used in bioprinting.
• Structural Integrity: “Curing” each layer by refrigerating every layer for two minutes prevented bleeding layers and colours, mimicking bio-ink behaviour.
• Surface smoothness: Although the overall project demonstrated an overview of bioprinting, it lacked the precision of real bioprinting techniques, including layer deposition with a few air bubbles and uneven surfaces (due to extra air in nozzles, bubbles in gelatin, etc.)

2: Final result:

• The structure was able to hold its shape and mimicked its mold, showing good strength and adaptability
• The gelatin’s behaviour was that of a bio-ink; stretchy, flexible and tissue-like.
• There were small inconsistencies and gaps, caused by air bubbles or uneven deposition
• Overall, the project was a success and depicted the processes of bioprinting through layering, curing and texture

Check out the first bioprinted heart!

About the author:

Hi, I’m Luxmie Gunarajah, a grade 9 student with a strong interest in healthcare and medicine! I dream of transforming the medical system by prioritizing patient care and integrating technological advances in the field. I’m excited to be part of a future where innovation prioritizes and leads to a better quality of life for everyone! If you want to connect, please email me at luxmieguna23@gmail.com or find my LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/luxmie-gunarajah-8b8043333

Works Cited:

Doris. “Axolotl Biosciences Is Shaping the Future of Regenerative Medicine with 3D Bioprinting — Interview with Dr. Stephanie Willerth.” 3Printr.com, 29 Apr. 2024, www.3printr.com/axolotl-biosciences-is-shaping-the-future-of-regenerative-medicine-with-3d-bioprinting-interview-with-dr-stephanie-willerth-0570967/. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

SunP Biotech. “3D Bioprinting of Different Bioinks Using Biomaker.” YouTube, 22 Jan. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTbQm0zH_vk. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

“The First Full-Size 3D Print of a Human Heart Is Here.” Www.youtube.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rfeCSQxDBg. Accessed 8 Apr. 2021.

With more than 4000 Canadians in need of a transplant, 250 on the waiting list end up dying waiting for a donor on average per year.

It is evident that the medical industry relies on new technology to provide care for patients. Over the years, the use of technology in healthcare has expanded to new heights, with groundbreaking inventions and tools providing patients with safety and protection.

However, as the need for healthcare steadily increases, the need to find further technology with the potential to transform and shape our medical systems also increases.

3D printing may just be the answer. But first, we must ask ourselves, what is 3D printing?

3D & 4D Printing:

Let’s review the basics.

3D Printing:

3D (three-dimensional) printing is a technological process that creates a physical object from a digital design, formed by laying down thin layers of material (often plastic, cement and metal) and then fusing the layers.

The issue with our medical system:

Organ demand & donation:

The need for organ and tissue donations is constantly increasing.

Again, with more than 4000 Canadians in need of a transplant, 250 on the waiting list end up dying waiting for a donor on average per year.

Now, why is that?

Less than 25% of people in Canada are registered donors. With such a high number of organ recipients outweighing the number of donors, many die unable to find a suitable organ donor.

3D Printing in Healthcare Systems

So far, how is 3D printing being used in healthcare systems?

3D printing has been incredibly popularized over the last few decades. Namely, its use in the healthcare system has greatly increased, being now found in hospitals, clinics, offices and more! 3D printing is already used to print bandages, casts, surgical tools, respirators, etc, and is being used more frequently to manufacture prosthetics!

What is Bioprinting?

Bioprinting is a type of 3D printing using live cells and biomaterials to replicate human tissues and organs.

Bio-ink: Bio-inks are the “ink” in a bioprint, used to construct the organs/tissues from living cells and supportive biomaterials. There a various types of bio-ink, each with its properties and compatibility.

1. Hydrogel-Based Bio-inks:

This bio-ink material has a high water content and provides support for cell growth. Hydrogels are incredibly similar to natural tissue and are the most commonly used bio-ink.

Natural hydrogels: Natural Hydrogels are made from natural substances such as collagen, alginate, hyaluronic acid, fibrin, gelatin, etc. These materials are suitable for supporting cell development and are very compatible as they match the extracellular matrix, almost fully mimicking a regular cell.

Synthetic hydrogels: These are made from substances such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which do provide precise control over properties, however it often needs additional modification to incorporate and optimize cell interaction.

2. Decellularized Extracellular Matrix (dECM):

These bio-inks are made from processed tissues or organs, with removed cells, only leaving the protein-rich matrix of the cells. This material keeps the biochemicals and structural components of the tissues, making it successful and effective when creating realistic tissue models, as it is nearly identical to a real one.

3. Cell-Laden Bio-inks:

Cell-laden bio-ink contains live cells drifting/ suspended in a biomaterial, with the cells derived from stem cells, cell lines or primary cells. This material is mostly used to create more complex and functional tissues, as the presence of the live cells encourages tissue development.

4. Composite Bio-inks:

These materials combine various types of biomaterials to prioritize mechanical properties, biocompatibility and cell viability. The personalization and versatility permit more precise care and medicine.

5. Hybrid Bio-inks:

Hybrid bio-inks combine natural biomaterials with synthetic polymers, using both qualities of each material. While synthetic polymers provide the material with longevity and support, natural materials optimize cell growth and adhesion. Hybrid bio-inks are used to create complex tissue structures that need integrity and biocompatibility.

6. Nano-Engineered Bio-inks:

These materials include nanoparticles/nanofibers that enhance mechanical strength, electrical conductivity for nerve/cardiac tissues, and various other properties.

Each bio-ink has different properties and strengths, providing a diverse option for different applications.

The process of bioprinting:

1. Plan & Design: To print a tissue/organ, a digital 3D design of the print must be created using imaging techniques like MRI or CT scans using specialized software.
2. Bio-ink: Then, a bio-ink material must be chosen. As mentioned before, each bio-ink has different properties and strengths, providing a diverse option for different applications. Hence, a material that is biocompatible with the design must be chosen for a successful and optimized print.
3. Printing layers: After choosing a bio-ink, the printer will deposit the materials in layers, building up the structure. This technique varies depending on the tissue being designed and can include extrusion-based printing for thick tissues, laser-assisted bioprinting for precision and inkjet printing for thin layers.
4. Crosslinking: After the layers are printed, the print undergoes crosslinking to stabilize the structure. This can be achieved using chemical, thermal or UV processes which allow the bio-ink to form a stable structure and solidify.
5. Culturing/Post-processing: The print is then cultured in a bioreactor, an environment that provides the needed conditions for the print to gain stability and functionality. More specifically, the bioreactor provides nutrients, oxygen, and other growth factors that help the print mature and grow.
6. Applications: Once the print is matured, the tissue structure can undergo testing before being used for biomedical applications. Soon enough, functional organs could be produced for transplantation, which takes us to how bioprinting is aiding the demand for organs.

How is bioprinting solving our organ crisis?

As we know, the need for organ and tissue donations is increasing while the amount of donors aren’t. The need for organs is a crisis in need of solving. Bioprinting may just be the answer.

Every day, 17 people die waiting on an organ transplant and every 8 minutes, another patient is added to the waitlist. Instead of waiting on a donor for years, an organ/tissue could be printed within weeks! Organ transplantation lists could be forever eliminated and patients could receive any organ whether that’s a kidney, heart or lung.

The average cost for a kidney transplant is about 442,500 dollars and can go up to 1.6 million dollars! That’s incredibly pricey, with many unable to afford such a steep price. 3D-printed organs could cost as low as 25,000 dollars, which is a lot of money but is substantially lower than the cost of an organ transplant, making it more accessible to the needy and saving millions of lives. This idea is just within our grasp and soon, printed organs will be accessible to many!

Why aren’t we there yet?

Cell damage during production:

Cells go through a large amount of stress when going through the 3D printing process. Poor conditions while printing can result in cell damage or death, compromising the functionality of the organ. Hence, keeping living cells alive and healthy is challenging, especially when printing structures up to scale (Ex: A whole human heart!🫀).

Low-Quality Printers:

Most 3D printers today lack the ability to print complex structures with detail at a high resolution and ideal viscosity. This is because 3D printing was originally invented to create plastic and metal parts, which did not require such precise printing. The technology was then repurposed to create prints using human tissue, meaning we haven’t reached the level of precision that it required to print such delicate and detailed organs/tissues.

Biomaterials limitation:

There is a very limited availability of biomaterials. Researchers find ways to use different techniques, however, only a limited amount of bio-inks meet the requirements to survive the 3D printing process. Hence, with such a low amount of biomaterials, it is hard to continuously experiment and try new things that could potentially waste resources.

Leaders in the field:

Joseph DeSimone is the co-founder of Carbon (a bioprinting company). He is known for creating a technology (called CLIP) that allows for faster and more effective 3D printing, especially with tissues.

Anthony Atala is the Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. He also has printed functional human tissues/organs and works in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

The future:

Today, replicas of brains, kidneys and hearts have all been printed in small-scale sizes. Anthology Atala aims to advance bioprinting to new heights by continuing to develop fully functional organs and enhancing personalized medicine, addressing organ shortages and improving drug/regenerative testing. Similarly, Joseph DeSimone continues to advance bioprinting technology, ensuring more precision and the ability to print more complex tissues, making bioprinting widely available in healthcare. The idea is to one day be able to print full-size organs on demand and provide patients with organs, eliminating deaths caused by the inability to afford a transplant, not being able to find an organ and organ rejection. All this seems far-fetched, but it’s much closer than one may think! 🤯

About the author:

Hi, I’m Luxmie Gunarajah, a grade 9 student with a strong interest in healthcare and medicine! I dream of transforming the medical system by prioritizing patient care and integrating technological advances in the field. I’m excited to be part of a future where innovation prioritizes and leads to a better quality of life for everyone! If you want to connect, please email me at luxmieguna23@gmail.com!

Works Cited:

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Becher, Brooke. “3D-Printed Organs: Are We Close? | Built In.” Builtin.com, 29 Sept. 2023, builtin.com/articles/3d-printed-organs.

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Cremades, Alejandro. “He Built a $2.5 Billion Business at Age 50 That Is Disrupting a 7,000 Year Old Industry.” Forbes, 11 Aug. 2019, www.forbes.com/sites/alejandrocremades/2019/08/11/he-built-a-25-billion-business-at-age-50-that-is-disrupting-a-7000-year-old-industry/.

Essen, Christian von. “🖨 5 Ways That 3D Printers Can Be Useful in Healthcare.” Warp News, Oct. 2020, www.warpnews.org/health-tech/5-ways-that-3d-printers-can-be-useful-in-healthcare/. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

Government of Canada. “Organ and Tissue Donation.” Canada, 8 Mar. 2023, www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/blood-organ-tissue-donation/organ-tissue.html.

Group, SAE Media. “4D Printing with Smart Materials.” Techbriefs.com, 29 Aug. 2023, www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/48876-4d-printing-with-smart-materials. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

Hayes, Adam. “3-D Printing Definition.” Investopedia, 29 Nov. 2021, www.investopedia.com/terms/1/3d-printing.asp.

Josephsays: “How 3D Printing Will Shape the Future of HealthCare.” McMaster HealthTech, 7 Feb. 2022, machealthtech.ca/2022/02/07/how-3d-printing-will-shape-the-future-of-healthcare/.

“LinkedIn.” Linkedin.com, 2024, www.linkedin.com/pulse/4d-printing-healthcare-glimpse-next-generation-pooja-m/. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

Malewar, Amit. “A New Bio-Ink for 3D Printing with Stem Cells.” Tech Explorist, 26 June 2016, www.techexplorist.com/new-bio-ink-3d-printing-stem-cells/3071/.

O’Neill, Benedict. “3D Bioprinting 2021: Guide and Product Selection.” Aniwaa, 31 May 2022, www.aniwaa.com/buyers-guide/3d-printers/3d-bioprinting-3d-bioprinters/.

“What Can You Make with a 3D Printer?” Www.hp.com, www.hp.com/us-en/printers/3d-printers/learning-center/what-can-you-make-with-3d-printer.html#modal=popup-reach-an-hp-3d-printing-expert.

Wolterskluwer.com, 2024, assets.contenthub.wolterskluwer.com/api/public/content/3d369d4e0216449b879a8b55176a1823?v=4568a50d. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

“Tecnologia LFAM — Treddy 3D Printing & Consulting.” Treddy — 3D Printing & Consulting, 21 Mar. 2023, treddy.it/en/servizi/3d-printing-service/lfam/. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

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