3D printers could create customised drugs on demand
28 replies, posted
[URL]http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17760085[/URL]
[QUOTE][B]Scientists are pioneering the use of 3D printers to create drugs and other chemicals at the University of Glasgow.[/B]
Researchers have used a £1,250 system to create a range of organic compounds and inorganic clusters - some of which are used to create cancer
treatments.
Longer term, the scientists say the process could be used to make customised medicines.
They predict the technique will be used by pharmaceutical firms within five years, and by the public within 20.
"We are showing that you can take chemical constituents, pass them through a printer and create what is effectively a chemical synthesiser in which
the reaction occurs allowing you to get out something different at the end," researcher Mark Symes told the BBC.
"We're extrapolating from that to say that in the future you could buy common chemicals, slot them into something that 3D prints, just press a button
to mix the ingredients and filter them through the architecture and at the bottom you would get out your prescription drug."
[B]
'Revolutionising healthcare'
[/B]
The 3D printing process involves the use of a robotically controlled syringe which builds an object out of a gel-based "ink", into which chemicals and catalysts are mixed.
"Chemists normally put chemicals in glassware to create a reaction," said Prof Lee Cronin, who came up with the idea.
"What we are doing is mixing the concept of the glassware and the chemicals together in the 3D printer to create what we call 'reactionware'.
"It's almost like a layer cake - you print the last reactionary agent first and then build other chemical layers above, finally adding a liquid at the top.
The liquid goes to layer one making a new molecule which goes to the next layer creating another and so on until at the bottom you get your
prescription drug out."
Until now the researchers have used bathroom sealant to create their reactor, and the substances created have not been suitable for human consumption.
But the scientists say their next step is to switch ingredients and replicate drugs already available in pharmacies. They also hope to work with
engineers to increase the printer's speed and resolution.
If successful, they say doctors and individuals could ultimately download pre-set recipes and even tailor medicines to their individual needs.
"This would not only place traditionally expensive chemical engineering technology within reach of typical laboratories and small commercial
enterprises, but also could revolutionise access to healthcare and the chemical sciences in general in the developing world," they wrote in a paper
[URL="http://www.nature.com/nchem/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nchem.1313.html"]published in the Nature Chemistry journal[/URL].
[/QUOTE]
Awesome.
Now I can print my weed.
Holy tits.
Buyin' me one of these newfangled 3D printers.
Reminds of me the Universal Constructors from Deus Ex.
Now I will never run out of heroin.
Still waiting for 3d printers to be heavily attacked by other companies.
So it prints molecules if I'm reading right? I think I remember watching a episode of megas xlr where Coop walks up to some device, says "cheese steak" and the device creates it from thin air. :v:
Soon we'll have printers that can print Star Destroyers.
[QUOTE=Daniel Smith;35629448]Now I can print my weed.[/QUOTE]
Your rolling papers [I]are[/I] the weed
[QUOTE=LtKyle2;35629621]So it prints molecules if I'm reading right? I think I remember watching a episode of megas xlr where Coop walks up to some device, says "cheese steak" and the device creates it from thin air. :v:
Soon we'll have printers that can print Star Destroyers.[/QUOTE]
But it didn't print vampire cheerleaders, and this is why this machine will be a failure!
MDMA will be revolutionized.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/fDVmR.jpg[/IMG]
3D printers are so awesome, I want one.
[QUOTE=Corey_Faure;35629720]MDMA will be revolutionized.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/fDVmR.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
If only...
One step closer to replicators. The Star Trek ones I mean, not the Stargate ones.
[QUOTE=LtKyle2;35629621]So it prints molecules if I'm reading right? I think I remember watching a episode of megas xlr where Coop walks up to some device, says "cheese steak" and the device creates it from thin air. :v:
Soon we'll have printers that can print Star Destroyers.[/QUOTE]
Man, that show was the shit.
I can't wait for the inevitable copyright issues that will arise from 3d printers in the future. Let's see how the game changes when it is actual, physical objects.
[QUOTE=Ardosos;35630982]I can't wait for the inevitable copyright issues that will arise from 3d printers in the future. Let's see how the game changes when it is actual, physical objects.[/QUOTE]
Sued for 100,000,000,000 for an illegal shape
Can't wait for some pure THC cubes :v:
I'd hate to see what happens when you run out of one color of toner.
[QUOTE=J!NX;35631113]Sued for 100,000,000,000 for an illegal shape[/QUOTE]
What if you use it to print 100,000,000,000?
Counterfeiting made easy
Hopefully we can print oil and solve the issue of our finite oil supply :v:
forgot for a second that americans call medicine drugs, almost assumed they could only do [I]drugs[/i], like heroin etc
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;35631343]What if you use it to print 100,000,000,000?
Counterfeiting made easy[/QUOTE]
You can already do that if you have photoshop and the right printer/paper.
[QUOTE=Ardosos;35630982]I can't wait for the inevitable copyright issues that will arise from 3d printers in the future. Let's see how the game changes when it is actual, physical objects.[/QUOTE]
You wouldn't print out a car...
I would be worried about things like anthrax being produced, not sure if that is feasible though.
Couldn't we eventually print lifeforms?
Print weed erryday
[QUOTE=Daniel Smith;35629448]Now I can print my weed.[/QUOTE]
Fuck that, print joints.
No need to roll anymore.
[QUOTE=Van-man;35631873]Fuck that, print joints.
No need to roll anymore.[/QUOTE]
Fuck that, print smoke.
No need to hold a joint anymore.
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