文章大意:这是一篇说明文。主要介绍了三维打印技术是一种一层一层地创造物体的技术,它彻底改变了我们制造东西的方式。最近,一组中国科学家又向前迈进了一步,他们利用这项技术制造出了逼真的人体器官复制品。
Three-dimensional printing, a technology that creates objects layer by layer, has revolutionized the way we make things. Recently, a group of Chinese scientists took things a step further by using this technology to create realistic replicas of human organs.
Previously, it was challenging to create a single material that could print different human organs due to their complexity. The research team from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics at the Chinese Academy of Science started by using hydrogel, a soft gel-like material as the main ingredient.
Human organs have various textures, with our brains being the softest. To replicate the hardness of materials like bone, the researchers added metallic elements to the hydrogel and adjusted their ratio to create the texture of each organ. However, the structure inside human organs is also incredibly complex with many interweaving channels. To make sure the printing results are correct, the team used light-curing technology in the 3D printing process. A special lamp was placed under the printing machine, causing the gel to become solid right after it was printed.
According to the team’s paper published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, they were able to produce organ models including the brain, lungs, and intestines.
These 3D printed organ models are essential for research purposes, such as testing medical equipment and demonstrating surgeries.
Compared to live organs and animal models, they are also ethically acceptable since they are printed artificially. They can help researchers develop new treatments more efficiently, due to their lower relative cost, commented the Alliance of Advanced Biomedical Engineering website.
Hydrogel materials, however, usually cannot be used as transplants, because human cells are likely to recognize them as “enemies” and start to fight against them. What scientists have been exploring in “printing” the organs is bioprinting: using 3D printing technology to build up various types of cells and materials layer by layer. This way, the printed product will be more acceptable to grow inside the human body. However, this method is still developing , and experts are hoping it will be used in the medical field within a decade, according to CNN.
12. What was the main challenge in printing human organs?
A.The complexity of soft-like gel. |
B.The high cost of printing materials. |
C.The lack of appropriate printing technology. |
D.The sophistication of human organs. |
13. How did the research team ensure the accuracy of the printing results?
A.By controlling the number of metallic elements. |
B.By using light-curing technology before printing. |
C.By solidifying the gel immediately after printing. |
D.By putting a special lamp over the printing machine. |
14. What is a benefit of 3D organ models according to the article?
A.They work better than animal models. |
B.They can be used to test surgical tools. |
C.They can fully replace animal testing. |
D.They are easily made and are affordable. |
15. Why are hydrogel materials usually unsuitable for transplants?
A.They are not durable enough. |
B.They can be rejected by the body. |
C.They are likely to release toxins. |
D.They are too hard to control during surgery. |