Animal Free 3D Bioprinting
Biofabrication or 3D bioprinting aims to create tissue constructs for numerous applications including animal free testing, drug screening and regenerative medicine. One crucial aspect of the technology is the use of suitable materials to enable the 3D printing of living cells which are called bioinks. These ‘bio inks’ must support the cells and keep them alive during and after the printing process. Currently, the majority of bioinks are derived from non-human materials (animal-based i.e., collagen or gelatin). In contrast, the present IraSME research project Human bioinks for 3D printing (HU3DINKS) aims to push this field forward by developing human tissue-based bioinks for multiple 3D bioprinting technologies.
The most commonly applied materials in 3D bioprinting are still derived from animal sources such as gelatin or collagen. Hence, there is a huge need for animal free alternatives, not only to replace animal testing, but also to resemble processes and conditions in human tissue more closely. In this respect, synthetic polymers have also been explored, and while several of these materials are safe to use in the human body, these synthetic options are an oversimplification of the complex natural situation in vivo and don’t fully bridge the gap between current in vitro tests and animal models.
The HU3DINKS project aims to overcome these limitations via the development of high-performing human tissue-based bioinks suited for different 3D bioprinting technologies including extrusion printing, and high-resolution laser-based printing. While there are already commercial human tissue-derived materials available on the market, their bioactivity and printing performance remains poor. Thus, the HU3DINKS consortium aims at converting commercially available human tissue-derived materials into bioinks, which can be printed in a straightforward manner.
Future applications of biofabrication include regeneration of human tissues and ‘organ printing’. “However, while still many hurdles need to be overcome to convert these applications to clinical reality, the bioprinting technology already offers solutions in the field of animal free testing. Here, the ‘human 3D inks’ can make a huge difference to make bioprinting truly animal free” says Jasper Van Hoorick, CEO of BIO INX.
As a result, drugs, or cosmetics can be tested on 3D printed human tissue models, which form a better mimic of native 3D tissues in comparison to conventional 2D cell culture techniques. This approach is in line with the 3R principle* of reducing, replacing, and refining animals used for scientific purposes.
To achieve this goal, especially high-resolution bioprinting based on 2-photon polymerization (2PP) can be crucial for bringing the field to the next level, as it is the only technology allowing printing at subcellular resolution, thereby making it possible to mimic the complicated microcellular architecture. It is also one of the only technologies enabling direct printing within microfluidic chips to enable straightforward drug screening. “The technology has made some tremendous advances in performance but is now mainly limited by the absence of high-performing biological materials. The HU3DINKS project can induce a paradigm shift in the field by truly mimicking the human cellular environment both in terms of architecture and composition.” – (Markus Lunzer – Materials specialist at UpNano)
The project has been granted in the framework of the international research activities by small and medium-sized enterprises (IraSME) initiative, which aims to stimulate cross-border collaborations between member countries. The HU3DINKS consortium unites partners with a unique complementary expertise from Belgium (funded by VLAIO) and Austria (funded by FFG). THT Biomaterials (Vienna, Austria) will contribute with their unique expertise on human placenta-derived materials. BIO INX (Ghent, Belgium) is expert in the field of bio ink development for multiple printing technologies and is responsible for turning the human placenta-derived materials from THT Biomaterials’ into ready-to-use printable formulations for different printing technologies. The project is also supported by Morphomed (Vienna, Austria) and their medical grade silk technology, and UpNano (Vienna, Austria), specialists in the development of 2PP (bio) high-resolution bio 3D printing technologies. Additionally, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology, (the Research Center in cooperation with AUVA) will be responsible for the biological validation of the newly developed bioinks.
*3R directive 2010/63/EU
Stay connected: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hu3dinks/
More info: https://projekte.ffg.at/projekt/4496675
Images available at: https://www.upnano.at/human-inks-to-3d-printing-human-tissues-hu3dinks-project-brings-together-expert-companies-for-the-development-of-human-tissue-based-inks/
About BIO INX®
BIO INX® is a start-up focusing on the development and commercialization of biomaterials for 3D-bioprinting applications. The multidisciplinary team with backgrounds in chemistry and biomedical engineering has over 25 years of combined experience in the field of polymers, (bio)materials, 3D printing and tissue engineering. BIO INX® offers and develops a whole range of ready to use (bio)inks for different 3D-printing technologies, including 2PP, DLP and deposition-based 3D printing. Here, they offer equivalent bioinks for the different printing technologies. Bioresins, suitable for 2PP printing, are part of their core expertise. By offering a unique material portfolio with a diverse range of material properties, the applications become nearly limitless: the bioinks can be applied for various tissue types with applications in regenerative medicine and drug and cosmetics screening. Additionally, by offering a bio-ink portfolio suitable for multiple printing technologies, attainable resolutions range from hundreds of micrometers to hundreds of nanometers.
Contact details BIO INX®
Dr. Jasper Van Hoorick, CEO
+32 499 169894
About UpNano GmbH
UpNano is a Vienna (Austria) based high-tech company with the focus on development, manufacturing and commercialization of high-resolution 3D-printers. The systems are based on 2‑photon-polymerization (2PP) which offer industry-leading speed and resolution down to 0.2 µm. UpNano is committed to providing customers with a holistic package of hardware, software and optimized printing materials, for the fabrication of polymeric microparts as well as the unique possibility of bioprinting in a native cell environment. Using UpNano’s cutting-edge technology makes it possible to print objects with sizes ranging from the sub-micrometer to the centimeter range and up to 40 mm in height – within times and precision never achieved before.
UpNano was founded in September 2018 as a spin-off of TU Wien and has since developed into an established provider of 3D printing systems for research facilities, universities and businesses worldwide.
Contact details UpNano GmbH
Dr. Markus Lunzer, Team Lead Materials & Application
+43 1 8901652 702
About Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology
The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology, the Research Center in Cooperation with AUVA, develops and advances diagnostic, therapeutic and regenerative research strategies to enable the full and sustained recovery of trauma patients. In close collaboration with Austrian trauma hospitals, a multidisciplinary team of more than 80 scientists – from electrical engineering to biology to human medicine – covers a broad spectrum in applied research. It is also the core founder and coordinator of the Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration.
About THT Biomaterials GmbH
“The Human Touch” (THT) Biomaterials GmbH was founded in 2020 with a goal of providing an affordable, sustainable, and personalized medicine. By using human placenta tissue, a so-called medical waste, THT Biomaterials GmbH offers an innovative platform technology based on human-derived biomaterials. THT Biomaterials GmbH develops human placenta-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins for different life sciences applications such as 2D/3D culture, organoid culture, organ-on-a-chip,3D bioprinting. Doing so, THT Biomaterials GmbH contributes not only to enhance the translation of research into clinical applications but at the same time to reduce and replace animal-derived materials in research (Directive 2010/63/EU).
Contact details THT Biomaterials GmbH
Dr. Johannes Hackethal, CEO
office@tht-biomaterials.com
+43 676 93 66 505
About Morphomed GmbH
MorphoMed is a Vienna based development-stage MedTech company focusing on regenerative implants for the therapy of soft tissue defects. MorphoMed’s MediSilk platform enables the development of scaffolds offering a unique combination of immediate mechanical strength and complete biodegradability resulting in full regeneration of a patient’s own tissue.
For instance, after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, MorphoMed’s ACL scaffold might help hundreds of thousands of patients to regenerate their ligament and get back to normal life and sports activities without loss of other valuable tissue due to autologous transplantation.
Contact details Morphomed GmbH
Dr. Michael Jakusch, CEO