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.
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