Bioprinting

Enabling supply of biologically safe tissues and organs using next-gen printing tech

Overview

Bioprinting is the process of using cells and biological material (called bioinks) for 3D printing structures that allow living cells to multiply and grow. The technology can be applied across multiple uses, including organ replacement, cosmetic surgery, and drug development. 

Advances in 3D printing technology have made bioprinting devices commercially viable. Bioprinting can be done using a range of methods, including magnetic levitation as well as inkjet-based, syringe-based, and laser-based printing. Going forward, its development will be focused on bioprinting devices and bioink materials, as having viable materials that can be safely implanted and used in the human body is key to the success of the industry. From a demand perspective, one of the primary drivers is the shrinking number of organ donors, along with population growth and the prevalence of chronic conditions that could be treated through organ and tissue replacement. 

Note: Additional sections (such as market sizing, detailed overview, and incumbents) can be provided on request.

The Disruptors


Funding History

Notable Investors


?
Funding data are powered by Crunchbase
arrow
menuarrow
close

Contact us

Gain access to all industry hubs, market maps, research tools, and more
Get a demo

What is bioprinting?

Bioprinting can be described as 3D printing using biologically safe materials, commonly known as bioinks. With bioprinting, it is theoretically possible to produce living tissues and organs, ranging from skin grafts, bones, and blood vessels to kidneys, hearts, and livers.
Bioprinting uses the same concepts as 3D printing in terms of the printing process; the target structure is printed layer by layer, based on the selected design. The specific printing tech used depends on the type of machine and bioinks used. A bioprinted tissue typically takes several hours to fully complete.
The next step—the implementation process—depends on the nature of what is being printed. For example, bioprinting skin grafts is a lot easier than bioprinting an organ, due to the relative simplicity of the function of skin, as it has limited interaction with the rest of the human body. A replacement organ such as a heart, on the other hand, would need to be integrated with the central nervous system to ensure continuous performance. This integration is a challenge, but scientists are confident of solving this within the decade.
Bioprinting process

How does bioprinting work? 

The term bioprinting can be applied to a range of different techniques, similar to how the traditional printing of documents can be classified into different types such as inkjet and laser printing. Each type is made in a different way, and each has its own uses and limitations. 
When it comes to commercially available bioprinters, pressure-assisted bioprinting is the most popular, while laser-assisted bioprinting comes in second. Since both of these methods are at lower risk for clogging issues in the printer nozzle (delays the production process), they have replaced ink-based printers, which were the first to be developed. The development of new bioinks and reduction in the cost of the technology will be key in commercializing pressure-assisted bioprinters.

Comparing various types of bioprinting

Click here to learn more
Get a demo

By using this site, you agree to allow SPEEDA Edge and our partners to use cookies for analytics and personalization. Visit our privacy policy for more information about our data collection practices.