Jason King, business development manager of stem cell biotech company Roslin Cellab, which took part in the research, said: "Normally laboratory grown cells grow in 2D but some cell types have been printed in 3D. However, up to now, human stem cell cultures have been too sensitive to manipulate in this way.

"This is a scientific development which we hope and believe will have immensely valuable long-term implications for reliable, animal-free, drug testing, and, in the longer term, to provide organs for transplant on demand, without the need for donation and without the problems of immune suppression and potential organ rejection."

科学家称，现在可以用3D打印技术批量制造出干细胞，这一技术将能加速实现打印人造器官的进程。

在不久的未来，这种3D打印技术可以用来制造类活组织物质，作为药物测试的样品。

该技术依靠可调节的“微型阀”来制造出一层层的人体胚胎干细胞。