Bioprinting Innovations in Biomedical Engineering

Researchers 3D printed materials directly inside the body for the first time. They used a technique called deep tissue in vivo sound printing (or DISP), which could change how doctors deliver treatments and repair tissue. Developed by scientists at Caltech, DISP works by injecting a specialized bioink into the body and then using focused ultrasound to activate it deep within tissues—something older methods like infrared-based printing couldn’t do, since they only reach just beneath the skin. The key innovation is that the bioink contains crosslinking agents trapped inside temperature-sensitive liposomes. When ultrasound heats the area to just above body temperature, the liposomes release these agents, triggering the ink to form into solid hydrogel at precise locations inside muscles or organs. In lab tests, researchers printed detailed shapes like stars and teardrops inside live rabbits, up to 4 cm below the skin, with no signs of toxicity. One version of the ink included a cancer drug, doxorubicin, and was tested on 3D cultures of bladder cancer cells. The printed hydrogel released the drug slowly over several days and proved more effective than standard injections, killing more cancer cells. Another version used conductive materials like carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires to create implants that could monitor temperature or electrical signals, useful for heart or muscle diagnostics. Importantly, the leftover bioink naturally cleared from the body within seven days, and the hydrogels remained stable and safe. This approach opens a new direction for minimally invasive medical treatment and personalized care. learn more https://lnkd.in/dqD35YD7

Announcing our latest publication from the #Heilshorn_Biomaterial_Lab! In our new collaborative work, led by brilliant Betty Cai and supervised by Sarah Heilshorn and Sungchul Shin, we developed an integrated fabrication and #endothelialization strategy that directly generates branched, endothelial cell-lined networks using a #diffusion_based, embedded 3D #bioprinting process for the first time. This #innovation not only addresses long-standing challenges in #vascular biofabrication, such as cell uniformity, seeding efficiency, and multi-cell type #patterning but also paves the way for engineering more complex, multi-cellular vasculature. Learn more about how we patterned both #arterial and #venous endothelial cells within a single network to enhance geometric complexity and #phenotypic heterogeneity by reading the full article via the link below: https://lnkd.in/gdcv-hW3 Betty Cai, David Kilian, Julien Roth, Alexis Seymour, Lucia Brunel, Daniel Ramos, @Ricardo J Rios, @Isabella M Szabo, Sean Chryz Iranzo, @Andy Perez, Ram Rao MD PhD, Sungchul Shin, Sarah Heilshorn Stanford University, DTU Health Tech, University of Washington, Seoul National University #Biofabrication #3DBioprinting #TissueEngineering #Bioprinting #VascularEngineering #Endothelialization #Biomaterials #RegenerativeMedicine #BiomedicalEngineering #Innovation #ScientificResearch #CellBiology #VascularNetworks #AdvancedManufacturing #MedicalInnovation #DiffusionBased #EmbeddedBioprinting #MultiCellularSystems #MaterialsEngineering #FutureOfMedicine #Arterial #Venous #ScienceInnovation #HealthcareInnovation #BiomedicalResearch #ScientificPublication

Bridging biomanufacturing and imaging science to engineer the future of regenerative medicine. In our latest publication in Chemical Engineering Journal (CEJ), we present a novel integration of multiple 3D bioprinting modalities with photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT), a next-generation imaging technology offering spectral contrast and ultra-high spatial resolution. Critically, PCCT enables noninvasive, quantitative, and longitudinal imaging of bioprinted implants in vitro and in vivo. This work was made possible through an outstanding collaboration with Dr. Cristian Badea at Duke, whose deep expertise in photon-counting CT was instrumental in developing a robust and translational imaging-engineering pipeline. We see this as a step toward a more tightly integrated ecosystem of biofabrication and imaging, where scaffold design, validation, and optimization can occur in a closed-loop, data-rich, and biologically relevant context. #PhotonCountingCT #3DBioprinting #InVivoImaging #TissueEngineering #RegenerativeMedicine #Biomanufacturing #BiomedicalImaging #HydrogelScaffolds #NoninvasiveImaging #Emory #Duke #GeorgiaTech

🟥 Bioprinting and Scaffold Integration of Organoids for Functional Tissue Engineering Bioprinting and scaffold integration are driving a new frontier in regenerative medicine by transforming organoids into implantable, functional tissues. While stem cell-derived organoids can mimic the structure and function of real organs, their clinical applications are often limited by size, shape, and lack of vascularization. But bioprinting techniques and biocompatible scaffolds now offer solutions to overcome these limitations, enabling the construction of more organized and physiologically relevant tissue structures. 3D bioprinting allows for the precise placement of cells, organoids, extracellular matrix (ECM), and growth factors in a defined spatial arrangement. When combined with bioinks tailored to the properties of the target tissue, researchers can fabricate complex multicellular structures that mimic native tissue architecture. The technology improves structural integrity and supports organoid maturation and integration into functional tissue units. Scaffold integration plays a key role in providing mechanical support and guiding organoid growth and organization. Scaffolds made from natural or synthetic biomaterials such as collagen, alginate, or PLGA can be engineered to promote vascularization, cell adhesion, and nutrient diffusion. These structures enable organoids to grow in a controlled, scalable manner and enhance their potential for transplantation or in vivo regeneration. Applications of the above technologies include printing liver, kidney, and heart tissue, integrating neural organoids with conductive scaffolds to repair the brain, and generating airway structures for lung regeneration. With the continuous advancement of biomaterials science, tissue biomechanics, and vascular engineering, bioprinting and scaffold technology are making organoid-based tissue engineering a powerful platform for disease modeling, drug testing, and personalized regenerative therapies. Reference [1] Michelle Huang et al., Nature Reviews Bioengineering 2025 (https://lnkd.in/eTb23WFw) #Organoids #Bioprinting #TissueEngineering #ScaffoldDesign #RegenerativeMedicine #3DBiology #StemCells #PrecisionMedicine #BiotechInnovation #Vascularization #TransplantTherapies #FunctionalOrganoids #CSTEAMBiotech

Excited to share our newest paper published in #ScienceAdvances on "3D bioprinting of collagen-based high-resolution internally perfusable scaffolds for engineering fully biologic tissue systems." Microfluidics and microphysiologic systems can now be constructed entirely out of cells and ECM, no more PDMS or plastic needed! This work was lead by an amazing team including co-first-authors Daniel Shiwarski and Andrew Hudson, Ph.D. together with Joshua Tashman, Ezgi Bakirci, Samuel Moss and Brian Coffin, PhD. The article is open access and free for everyone to read. https://lnkd.in/eQr27gcu The journal cover shows one of our #FRESH #3Dbioprinted collagen CHIPS in the specially designed VAPOR bioreactor for extended in vitro perfusion.

Last week, I visited the founders of Frontier Bio - a company attempting to solve an ambitious challenge: bioprinting human tissues and organs. Frontier Bio is developing technologies to fabricate vascularized human tissue, including lung and neural tissue, two of the most complex systems in the body. Their technology precision 3D bioprints using techniques like inkjet and extrusion printing, placing living cells into engineered scaffolds. Here is me along with Eric Bennett CEO Frontier Bio, and Sam Pashneh-Tala, CTO Frontier Bio standing in front of one of their machines that spins a scaffold to grow blood vessels - a key step toward producing tissue that can survive and integrate in the human body. According to the World Health Organization, only 10% of global demand for organ transplants is currently met[1] That leaves 90% of patients without access to life-saving procedures Bioprinting could change this, and it's already being used today in areas like drug testing, personalized medicine, and early regenerative applications Frontier Bio is still early, but already commercial - they’re selling bioprinted tissue to the Singapore government. It’s a platform technology that’s broader in scope than some of the single-tissue players in this space. For a deeper look at how this fits into the wider landscape, including companies like formerly zPREDICTA, Humacyte, and Xeltis, here is a full overview on my Substack article: https://lnkd.in/gfC_4aig [1] Jones B, Bes M. Keeping kidneys. Bull. World Health Organ. 2012;90:718–719.

Scientists at Newcastle University, led by Dr. Che Connon, have 3D-printed a living human cornea in under 10 minutes using a bio-ink of stem cells and alginate, mimicking its natural structure. This could restore vision for over 10 million people with corneal blindness, especially where donor tissue is scarce, and offers promise for future transplants with its accurate shape, clarity, and cell viability, potentially revolutionizing global eye care and regenerative medicine.

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

The placenta is one of the most important – and least understood – organs. It only exists during pregnancy, grows at astonishing speed, and holds many of the keys to complications like preeclampsia. Yet studying it in real time has always been a challenge. That’s why the first 3D-printed mini-placentas are such an exciting development. By bioprinting placental organoids, researchers can now mimic the early stages of pregnancy in the lab, safely test treatments, and uncover processes that were once invisible. This isn’t just a technical advance. It’s a new window into conditions that affect millions of mothers and babies worldwide – from preeclampsia to premature birth. And it could be a step toward predicting and preventing complications before they turn critical. Source - https://lnkd.in/ee99rgtP