“Spanish researchers are now one step closer to creating 3D printed bone and cartilage for patients, after the tissues were recently synthesized using the technology for the first time. This sees Spain keeping pace with developments we’ve previously reported on in various other places around the world, where 3D bio-printing is beginning to move out of the laboratory and become implemented more and more for transplants and other important surgical procedures. The breakthrough was made by scientists and engineers at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, in collaboration with the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). Research in Spain has been progressing well in the bio-printing field recently, with 3D printed human skin tissue having already been mastered at the start of this year. 3D printed bone tissue should prove to be even more useful, particularly as a way of treating osteoporosis and other degenerative conditions, and it will also lessen the need to use animals as laboratory test subjects.”