Biomedical Engineering Tissue Engineering

Scientists 3D-printed living skin with real blood vessels—for the first time in medical history In a regenerative medicine lab in Canada, researchers have used 3D bioprinting to create living human skin complete with functioning blood vessels. This artificial skin bleeds, heals, and grows just like the real thing—opening the door to full grafts, wound healing, and organ interfaces. Most previous bioprinting attempts failed to create vascular systems—meaning the cells died quickly without oxygen. But the Canadian team solved this by printing skin in layers: dermis, epidermis, and most critically, embedded channels for capillaries. They used a custom hydrogel laced with human endothelial cells that self-assembled into blood vessel networks. After a few days in bioreactors, the skin began circulating fluid through these tiny channels—proof of real tissue viability. When grafted onto lab animals with skin damage, the printed patches fused with their bodies and began healing naturally. No rejection, no necrosis, just real biological function. The skin even grew hair follicles when cultured under specific protein conditions. This could end the reliance on donor skin for burn victims and cosmetic reconstruction. It may also allow artificial organs to be covered in living tissue for better integration. We’re one step closer to printing entire bodies—one blood vessel at a time. #research #biowolrd #biomedicalresearch

𝟵𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀. Despite rigorous testing, the pharmaceutical industry continues to grapple with a high failure rate. It’s a decades old problem that persists. The disconnect between animal models and human biology has led to inefficiencies and ethical concerns. It’s a moral tug-of-war that once seemed unresolvable medical progress often came at the cost of animal welfare. More than 115 million animals are estimated to be used in drug testing globally each year. Shockingly, 95% of drugs shown to be safe and effective in animal tests fail in human trials. And nearly 99% of animals used in scientific experiments are not protected by federal animal welfare laws. 𝗦𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲, 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴? Scientists at Harvard University introduced a groundbreaking idea: creating replicas of human organs on tiny lab chips. Just as we’ve downsized from massive storage units to microchips in our devices, could we now miniaturize organs onto chips? I was thrilled to read about this development. I’ve often wondered about the moral cost of inducing disease in other living beings for the sake of our health. 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘀-𝗼𝗻-𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 (𝗢𝗼𝗖𝘀) are essentially tiny 3D cell cultures that act as a bridge between traditional animal testing and the complexities of human biology. OoC models consist of miniature tissue systems grown within microfluidic chips, lined with living human cells. These chips simulate human physiology, enabling drug development, disease modelling, and personalized medicine. With OoCs, researchers can create more accurate and efficient models for testing human drugs reducing the likelihood of ineffective or harmful treatments. By mimicking a cell’s microenvironment on a chip, we can study genetic factors, explore new treatment avenues for complex conditions, and even address rare diseases with limited sample sizes. OoCs also enable biomaterial testing, helping evaluate the biocompatibility of materials used in medical devices. Recently, a firm called 𝗘𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 tested a Liver-on-a-Chip device with 27 drugs that had passed animal trials but were toxic to humans. The chip accurately flagged 87% of these harmful compounds. I'm truly excited about the integration of tissue engineering and microfabrication to advance our understanding of human biology ethically and effectively. I hope to see a future where research and commercial applications in this space grow rapidly, helping us build a more humane and progressive health tech ecosystem one where millions of animals no longer have to suffer in the name of human progress. Watch this video by Harvard to learn more. #healthcare #technology #healthtech #innovation 

Researchers from Aalto University and the University of Bayreuth have developed a self-healing hydrogel that mimics human skin properties. The innovative material can repair itself up to 90% within four hours and achieve full restoration in 24 hours, offering significant potential for advancements in wound care and regenerative medicine. The hydrogel's unique composition combines hydrogels with ultra-thin clay nanosheets, allowing it to be both flexible and durable. The self-healing process involves reformating polymer entanglements at the site of damage, restoring its mechanical properties efficiently. This development holds promise for applications in artificial skin, soft robotics, and drug delivery systems, potentially revolutionizing medical treatments and patient care. #RMScienceTechInvest

Scientists demonstrated 3D printing vascular networks that could advance the field of organ transplantation! The Wyss Institute has been the forefront of 3D bioprinting for over a decade and this is an important milestone on the way towards organs that can be transplanted. “𝑇𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑏 𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡. 𝐼’𝑚 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑐 𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑒𝑠. 𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒-𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑙𝑎𝑏-𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠,” said Wyss Founding Director Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D. Now they plan to include developing networks of capillaries to enhance the functionality of lab-grown tissues. This way, one day, they could replicate the full structure of human blood vessels.

What if we told you that in less time than it takes to brew your morning coffee, scientists could print a living human eye part? It sounds like something out of a futuristic movie, but it's now a reality! Researchers have successfully 3D-printed human corneas in under 10 minutes, using a groundbreaking "bio-ink" crafted from human stem cells, alginate (a component of seaweed), and collagen. This incredible leap forward offers a beacon of hope for millions worldwide suffering from corneal blindness, potentially providing an unlimited supply of corneas for transplantation and revolutionizing ocular medicine. This innovative technique, developed by scientists at Newcastle University, not only showcases the astonishing potential of bio-printing but also highlights the power of combining natural materials with cutting-edge science. While this is a pivotal proof-of-concept and further testing is needed before these printed corneas can be used in human transplants, the achievement marks a significant step towards a future where corneal blindness could be a thing of the past. Imagine a world where sight can be restored with a simple print – the possibilities are truly astounding! #3DPrinting #BioPrinting #HumanCornea #StemCells #MedicalBreakthrough

What if cirrhosis/ fatty liver wasn’t a one-way street, but a traffic jam we could clear by simply releasing the brake? The liver is famous for its superpower: cut away 70% and it grows back. So why, in cirrhosis or fatty liver disease, does this superpower fail? Because chronic injury flips on a stress switch called MKK4. Oxidative stress, fat, inflammation trigger this kinase. MKK4 pulls the emergency brake: stopping hepatocytes from dividing. It’s protective in the short term (better to freeze than risk chaos in a toxic environment). But in chronic disease, that brake never releases. Scar tissue builds, blood flow distorts, detox pathways collapse. Cirrhosis isn’t local—it unravels the whole body: brain fog, kidney failure, muscle wasting. Enter HRX-215. This small molecule selectively inhibits MKK4. The brake lifts. And suddenly: Hepatocytes divide again—diluting toxins with each new cell. Fibrosis begins to reverse as fresh hepatocytes calm scar-forming stellate cells. Metabolism and detox restart, reducing systemic stress. The act of regenerating makes the environment more conducive to healing. It’s a positive feedback loop: growth begets stability. But isn’t that dangerous? Not quite. MKK4 is one brake, not the only one. Other safety nets remain: p53, p21 checkpoints block damaged DNA. Apoptosis clears broken cells. Immune surveillance watches for rogue clones. So HRX-215 doesn’t unleash chaos. It releases one over-zealous brake while others keep the system safe. Preclinical models showed no tumorigenesis—only controlled, functional regeneration. Why this matters: In pigs with 85% of their liver removed, HRX-215 rescued survival. In June 2025, the first patients were dosed in Phase Ib trials. Data is due later this year. If it works, HRX-215 could transform high-risk surgeries, expand transplant options, and one day, turn cirrhosis from irreversible scarring… into reversible regeneration. Sometimes, the future of medicine isn’t about building new engines. It’s about knowing when to release the brake. Suchitaa Paatil Sanju S Anju Goel Amit Saxena Ajay Nandgaonkar Taruna Anand Linda Greenbaum #LiverHealth #Cirrhosis #RegenerativeMedicine #ClinicalTrials #HealthcareInnovation #TranslationalScience #DrugDiscovery #FutureOfCare

Following our recent breakthrough in developing mouse mini-intestines for ex vivo tumor development (https://lnkd.in/eAc6YzAr) and building on our ability to generate in vitro models of healthy human colon (https://lnkd.in/ep7Xni-3), we asked ourselves: can this technology be applied to cells from colorectal cancer patients? We're thrilled to announce that our latest publication provides the answer: https://rdcu.be/dMuAr We've created long-lived human 'mini-colons' that stably integrate patient cancer cells and their native tumor microenvironment. This innovative format is optimized for real-time, high-resolution evaluation of cellular dynamics, offering exciting experimental possibilities. Our research highlights include: 1) Multi-faceted evaluation of drug efficacy, toxicity, and resistance in anti-cancer therapies. 2) Discovery of a cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-triggered mechanism driving colorectal cancer invasion. 3) Identification of immunomodulatory interactions among different components of the tumor microenvironment. This work has been led by Luis Francisco Lorenzo Martín, with invaluable support from Nicolas Broguiere, Jakob Langer, Lucie Tillard, Mike Nikolaev, George Coukos, and Krisztian Homicsko. Thank you all!! #Organoid #Tumoroid #Bioengineering #CancerResearch #TeamScience

New paper out today in Advanced Healthcare Materials: We pit Myokines vs. Mechanics to establish the separate mechanical & biochemical mechanisms by which muscle contraction programs motor neuron growth and maturation from the bottom up! https://lnkd.in/eaUuZZZb Summary of our findings: Myokines secreted by contracting muscle play important roles throughout the body (highlighting the systemic beneficial impacts of exercise!), but it is difficult to isolate the muscle-specific origin and functional impact of circulating biochemicals in vivo. To dive deeper into bottom-up communication from muscles to motor neurons, we needed a way to efficiently generate large volumes of myokines in vitro i.e. collect conditioned media from contractile muscle monolayers! But contractile 2D muscle monolayers readily delaminate from substrates making it difficult to efficiently collect conditioned media rich in myokines... so we had to develop a fibrin hydrogel formulation that enabled stable culture of highly contractile 2D muscle over several weeks. Leveraging our "myokine factory", we observed that motor neurons grew faster and farther when stimulated with muscle-secreted factors, and that the degree of observed axonogenesis was dependent on muscle contraction intensity (i.e. dose dependent)! But evidence in the literature also points to ways in which the large *mechanical* forces generated during muscle contraction have an impact on neighboring tissues, making us curious to investigate the role of mechanobiology in muscle-motor neuron crosstalk. Leveraging our lab's Magnetic Matrix Actuation (MagMA) platform, we found that dynamic mechanical stimulation of motor neurons (mimicking forces generated during muscle contraction) significantly increased axonogenesis, having an *equivalent* impact to myokine stimulation! Despite morphological similarities, we noted that biochemical stimulation (with myokines) & mechanical stimulation (with MagMA) had different impacts on motor neuron gene expression, with myokines more significantly upregulating genes that play key roles in nerve/synapse maturation. Overall, our experiments highlight the importance of studying bottom-up signaling from muscles to motor neurons, as well as the significance of considering both biochemical *and* mechanical signaling when studying crosstalk with force-generating tissues. This paper builds on our previous in vivo study published in Biomaterials, which showed that targeted stimulation of denervated muscle grafts quickly restored mobility after trauma in mice (indicating regrowth of injured motor neurons). More details in the paper! Kudos to lead author Angel Bu and everyone on the team MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) for years of careful experiments and beautiful images!

A 25-year-old woman in China with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) has successfully received stem-cell therapy, allowing her to produce her insulin and depend less on injections. The woman received treatment using stem-cell-derived islet cells created from her own fat cells, which were then injected into her abdomen. Researchers announced that this experimental treatment has kept her insulin-free for more than a year following the procedure. This is the first known case in which a patient with T1D has maintained insulin production through stem-cell therapy over an extended period. T1D is an autoimmune condition that results in the immune system attacking the pancreas’s islet cells, making insulin production nearly impossible. The development has captured worldwide attention. Diabetes treatment experts have praised the study as "incredible," highlighting that using patients' own cells could potentially remove the need for long-term anti-rejection medication. Additional stem-cell trials are underway, continuing to explore the potential of this treatment. Researchers hope that, with further trials, stem-cell therapy may soon become a viable option for millions suffering from T1D globally. #Type1Diabetes #T1D