A Chennai startup’s bio 3D printer can print human tissues marking an important milestone.
What’s it about? Avay Biosciences has developed a 3D printer that can print human tissues. Called the Mito Plus, it was launched at the recent Bengaluru Tech Summit. Printing tissue uses bio inks, i.e., cells mixed in biomaterial to create scaffolds. These are incubated, and with the right environment, the cells multiply to make connections similar to tissue.
- The first prototype of the printer was at IISc Bangalore. They later added temperature control and had trials with different UV bulbs and LEDs. 70% of the manufacturing happened in Chennai and Bengaluru.
- It can be used for a wide range of biomaterials. It can also be used for pharma drug discoveries and testing. Researchers can adjust the parameters for precise scaffolds to maintain integrity.
Uses for the future: 3D bioprinting, despite many challenges, will help create artificial organs. It can help in transplants. They can also be used to build complex structures like skin and live tissue. There’s still a long way to go to create fully functional and viable organs. That would require help from tissue engineering researchers and material scientists.
- The company is partnering with institutes like IIT Madras, BITS Pilani, and ICT-Mumbai for research and collaboration. The future for this technology is bright, as the market is projected to reach $3.3 billion by 2027.
(Image credits: Avay Biosciences’ Instagram Post)