Researchers at Penn State have developed a groundbreaking 3D bioprinting technique called the High-throughput Integrated Tissue Fabrication System for Bioprinting (HITS-Bio). This method enables the rapid creation of functional biological tissues, achieving speeds ten times faster than current approaches while maintaining high cell viability.
HITS-Bio uses cell clusters, known as spheroids, to fabricate tissues with a density comparable to natural human tissues. Unlike traditional methods, which often damage cells or are too slow for practical application, HITS-Bio employs a digitally controlled nozzle array.
This system uses multiple nozzles capable of precise three-dimensional movement, allowing the simultaneous manipulation of spheroids. This innovation enables the rapid assembly of complex tissue structures with customized patterns, making it a significant advancement in bioprinting.
In testing, the researchers successfully fabricated a one-cubic-centimeter cartilage tissue using 600 spheroids in under 40 minutes. This outpaces traditional techniques and retains more than 90% cell viability. The team also demonstrated the technique’s clinical potential by repairing bone tissue in a rat model.
Using HITS-Bio, spheroids programmed with microRNA were directly printed into a skull wound during surgery, accelerating bone healing. After three weeks, the wound showed a 91% healing rate, and 96% after six weeks.
The development of HITS-Bio represents a major step toward creating lab-grown tissues and organs for medical use. Future efforts are focused on integrating blood vessels into bio-printed tissues, potentially expanding its applications to organ transplantation and advanced disease modeling. This technique holds promise for revolutionizing regenerative medicine by enabling faster, more effective tissue and organ fabrication.
Filed in . Read more about 3D Printing, Medical and Medicine.
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