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Additive Manufacturing Bio-Ink Enables the Printing of "Breathing" Tissue

Source: Press release | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario have developed a bio-ink that can mimic the mechanical and structural properties of lung tissue. In other words, this bio-ink enables the printing of tissue that can contract and "breathe," similar to the human lung.

The bio-ink enables the printing of tissue that can contract and "breathe," similar to the human lung.(Image: Georgia Kirkos, McMaster University)
The bio-ink enables the printing of tissue that can contract and "breathe," similar to the human lung.
(Image: Georgia Kirkos, McMaster University)

In contrast to other bioinks that require low temperatures for printing and lose their shape after production, the material developed by researchers at McMaster University in Ontario maintains complex structures while remaining stable at body temperature. The project was financially supported by McMaster University in 2024 and led to the founding of the start-up company Tessella Biosciences, which already has its first customers and benefits from positive feedback.

Difficulties in Replicating Realistic Cellular Environments

The project was launched to address an important limitation in the research of respiratory diseases. Jeremy Hirota, associate professor of medicine at McMaster University and co-founder of the start-up company, encountered difficulties in replicating realistic cellular environments, particularly when studying conditions such as COPD or pulmonary fibrosis. "Most biomedical research in this field relies on rigid supports such as culture plates or petri dishes, which are far removed from the physiological conditions of a human lung," he explains.

To overcome this limitation, Hirota sought support from José Moran-Mirabal, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and David Gonzalez Martinez, a doctoral student. This interdisciplinary collaboration led to the development of a bio-ink specifically formulated to mimic the elasticity and stretchability of lung tissue through a tailored composition and rheology.

Application As A Skin Graft for Severe Burns

The researchers describe this bio-ink as a "plug-and-play" solution compatible with currently available 3D bioprinters. It enables the production of complex three-dimensional structures with high resolution in less than an hour. While it already shows promise for lung modeling and testing toxicity or drug responses, the team also envisions future clinical applications. These include the production of skin grafts for severe burns or functional fragments of lung tissue for repair or transplantation procedures.

In the long term, researchers see the possibility of biologically printing entire organs—a major goal in the field of 3D bioprinting. However, they acknowledge that this goal still faces significant challenges, both scientifically and from a regulatory perspective.

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