Brave, new world

A lot of media hype has whipped up interest in 3D printing with respect to healthcare. Additive manufacturing has not yet been propelled to a stage where human organs are being printed so that they can be transplanted, but one of the most exciting fields has to be the biofabrication of three-dimensional living human cells and tissues that can be used to fast-track drug development. Customization is one of the great benefits of 3D printing, and in the medical field prosthetic and implant customization is an area that can be routine, say printing dentures, or lifesaving, as in custom designing an air splint to open airways and restore breathing for three young lads - for that story, turn to page 12.