The Bioprinting Frontier: Key Trends Driving Innovation

With the release of 3DPrint.com‘s updated bioprinting world map, the dynamic shifts within the bioprinting sector come into focus. While the map shares a global view of where key companies and startups are located, it also reflects broader changes within the industry.

As bioprinting continues to grow, different trends have emerged, revealing specific areas where companies are beginning to specialize and thrive. These “sub-niches” within bioprinting are essential to understand where the sector is headed, with five trends standing out as particularly influential.

Biomaterials

The success of bioprinting heavily depends on the materials used, which directly impact the ability to replicate the structure and function of human tissues. This is why advances in biomaterials have opened up new possibilities for bioprinting, allowing the creation of tissues that closely mimic lifelike ones. For these materials to work, they must be biocompatible so they can interact with human cells without causing harm, and they need to be versatile enough to form complex structures like blood vessels and skin.

In recent years, the development of both synthetic and natural biomaterials has accelerated, allowing researchers to tailor materials to specific needs, whether it’s for creating heart tissue, cartilage, or skin. For example, GelMA, a popular biomaterial derived from gelatin, is widely used because it can be modified to boost its properties, making it ideal for various tissue types.

The GEL-MA INX bioink by Rousselot and BIO INX. Image courtesy of BIO INX.

Companies like Xylyx Bio specialize in creating biomaterials designed to replicate the environment of human tissues. Its products are engineered to support cell growth and tissue formation, essential for developing viable, long-term tissue solutions. Other companies leading the charge include BIO INX, Bifrost Biotechnologies, 4D Biomaterials, MorphoMed, and FoldInk.

By focusing on the development of advanced biomaterials, these companies are helping bioprinting evolve and paving the way for future medical applications like tissue regeneration and, in the long-term, organ tissues for transplant.

Microfluidics & Lab-on-a-Chip Devices

Microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip technologies are changing bioprinting by giving researchers better control over how tissues are printed. These devices allow for the creation of smaller, more intricate structures, which are crucial for developing accurate models of organs or tissues. This level of detail is essential for creating realistic models used in everything from drug testing to disease research.

One of the key advantages of microfluidics in bioprinting is the creation of fine, detailed features within tissues, such as capillaries, which are essential for transporting nutrients and oxygen in the body. By integrating microfluidics, researchers can bioprint tissues that function more like lifelike tissues, increasing their potential use in medical applications.

Companies like Aspect Biosystems are at the forefront of this technology, developing advanced microfluidic devices that allow the creation of highly structured, multi-cellular tissues. The company’s platform lets researchers precisely place different cell types within a single tissue, which is ideal for replicating the complexity of human organs.

Bioprinting Software

As bioprinting grows more complex, the software used to design and control the printing process is becoming more critical. However, a challenge in the industry is that much of the available software is tied to specific bioprinting machines. While brand-specific software offers seamless integration, it can also restrict the ability to use different systems in a streamlined way.

Notable players in the arena, like nScrypt, offer software that improves the precision and capabilities of bioprinting machines, with the added advantage of being adaptable to various platforms. Similarly, Scispot and Advanced Solutions provide flexible software solutions that can be used across different bioprinting systems, making them great tools for researchers looking to integrate more than one type of technology.

On the other hand, companies like RegenHU and Allevi by 3D Systems develop software closely tied to their bioprinters, assuring good performance but making it harder to use with other systems. This raises an important question: will the future of bioprinting software see a shift toward more adaptable, accessible solutions that simplify processes across various systems? These developments could play a key role in advancing research and making bioprinting technology more widely accessible.

In Vitro Models

Drug testing and disease research are beginning to turn to bioprinted in vitro models. These models offer a more accurate representation of human tissues, reducing the need for animal testing and speeding up the development of new drugs. CTI Biotech is leading the way in this field, using bioprinting to create 3D models that closely replicate human tissues. Their work is mainly focused on cancer research, where these models can be used to test the effectiveness of treatments in a more realistic environment.

In addition to CTI Biotech, companies like Rokit Healthcare and Prellis Biologics are also making strides in bioprinted in vitro models. Rokit Healthcare focuses on creating tissue models for drug testing and regenerative medicine, providing valuable tools for wound healing research. Meanwhile, Prellis Biologics uses laser-based bioprinting to develop highly detailed tissue structures, mainly vascularized models.

Microscopy image of a Lymph Node Organoid used to recapture human immune responses in vitro. Image courtesy of Prellis Biologics.

Light-based & Hybrid Bioprinting

Light-based and hybrid bioprinting techniques are among the latest advancements in the field. Light-based bioprinting uses light, often lasers, to quickly and precisely solidify bioinks as they are printed. The results are detailed structures like blood vessels, which are key for building functional tissues. Companies like Prellis Biologics and Readily3D are making progress, using light to create complex tissue models.

Additionally, some companies are taking bioprinting further by combining different techniques in what is known as hybrid bioprinting. This approach allows using multiple materials and cell types in a single print, creating tissues that closely mimic those in the human body. MocBiotechnologies is a key player in this field, using its 4D hybrid bioprinting technology to accelerate drug discovery, particularly in cancer research.

As these technologies advance, they will play a crucial role in developing more complex and functional bioprinted tissues, bringing us closer to printing fully functional organs.