Bioprinting technology, regenerative medicine initiative

3D Systems is expanding development efforts on regenerative medicine and bioprinting solutions through collaboration with United Therapeutics Corp. and its organ manufacturing and transplantation-focused subsidiary, Lung Biotechnology PBC, to develop 3D printing systems for solid-organ scaffolds. Leveraging this and other work, 3D Systems intends to invest in, further develop, and commercialize solutions for diverse application opportunities, including developing non-solid organ applications requiring biologically sustainable vasculature.

In 2020, 3D Systems and United Therapeutics advanced development of a next-generation additive manufacturing (AM) platform solution for lung scaffolds that’s capable of full-size, vascularized, rapid, micron-level printing. The Print to Perfusion process enables 3D printing of large, vascularized, highly detailed hydrogel scaffolds at rapid speeds. To advance these efforts, 3D Systems is expanding its high-speed Figure 4 technology tailored to bioprinting and regenerative medicine.

“We’ve seen a growing need to place cells at high-resolution in a nurturing matrix to produce complex tissues,” says Chuck Hull, co-founder, executive VP, and CTO, 3D Systems. “Precise 3D printing with hydrogels, followed by perfusion of cells into the printed scaffold is the best way to achieve this.”

“The full size, vascularized lung scaffolds produced by 3D Systems’ printers allow our cellularization teams to focus on our mission to build an unlimited supply of transplantable organs,” says Derek Morris, associate director of engineering, Lung Biotechnology PBC.

3D Systems is infusing additional resources into its regenerative medicine R&D efforts to accelerate development programs that expand the scope of potential applications. The company intends to add additional regenerative medicine domain expertise to its team. https://www.3dsystems.com