Revolutionary 3D Printing Technique Could Transform Medicine with Speedy Bioengineered Tissues
A new, rapid 3D printing method developed by Penn State researchers promises to revolutionize biotechnology and medicine. This groundbreaking approach, known as HITS-Bio, can produce complex biological tissues ten times faster than existing techniques while maintaining high cell viability.
The technology relies on "spheroids," tiny clusters of cells, which are more closely resemble the densely packed structure of natural tissues. Unlike traditional bioprinting methods that build tissues layer by layer, HITS-Bio uses a system of multiple, digitally controlled nozzles to precisely place these spheroids, allowing for more intricate and accurate tissue fabrication.
"This technique is a significant advancement in rapid bioprinting of spheroids," says Ibrahim T. Ozbolat, a professor of engineering science and mechanics at Penn State who spearheaded the development. "It enables the bioprinting of tissues in a high-throughput manner at a speed much faster than existing techniques with high cell viability.”
“We can then build scalable structures very fast. It’s 10-times faster than existing techniques and maintains more than 90 percent high cell viability,” Ozbolat adds.
To test the system’s capabilities, the team created a one-cubic centimeter cartilage tissue using 600 spheroids in under 40 minutes. This impressive feat surpasses the speed of previously existing bioprinting methods.
The researchers didn’t stop at laboratory tests. They moved to pre-clinical trials, demonstrating the potential of HITS-Bio in rat models. They successfully repaired damaged bone tissue in rats by directly printing spheroids containing microRNA that stimulated bone cell differentiation directly into a skull wound during surgery.
"Since we delivered the cells in high dosages with this technique, it actually sped up the bone repair,” Ozbolat explains.
The results were remarkable: the wound showed a 91 percent healing rate after three weeks and 96 percent after six weeks.
This breakthrough technology paves the way for a future where lab-grown tissues can be used to replace damaged organs, providing hope for patients in need. It also opens up exciting possibilities for developing highly accurate disease models, accelerating research and drug development.
The team is currently working on incorporating blood vessels into the bioprinted tissues, a crucial step towards creating fully functional organs suitable for transplantation. This advancement, combined with the speed and accuracy of HITS-Bio, represents a giant leap towards personalized medicine and a new era of healthcare.
