The Integrated Tissue-Organ Printing (ITOP) System was developed over a 10-year period by scientists at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine. For the research reported in Nature Biotechnology, three printing nozzles were used to deposit:
1. Bio-degradable, plastic-like materials to form the tissue “shape”
2. A water-based gel that contains the cells
3. A temporary outer structure to help maintain the tissue shape during printing

The video, shown in both normal and 10X speed, shows the beginning, middle, and end stages of printing a bone structure to replace a jaw defect. The close-up views show the micro-channels that are created to allow oxygen and nutrients to diffuse into the structure after implantation in the body.