Gellan Gum: The Cool Way to 3D Print Tissues

Creating lifelike tissue structures for medical purposes is a big challenge. Scientists are trying out new methods like using self-healing fluids to help in this process. One interesting way is using gellan gum to form little gel balls, called granular gels. These are made by stirring during gel formation. The cool thing about these granular gels is that they work well at various temperatures, even cold ones like 4°C. They also allow for fast 3D printing, up to 60 mm/second, and have low strength requirements for printing. Scientists showed that cells could survive within these gels for seven days, and they even made special gels that could form solid features. This combination of easy preparation, speed, temperature tolerance, and the ability to form solid parts makes gellan gum a great option for creating tissue-like structures.