3D laser bioprinter designed for precise human tissue engineering

Liu uses laser technology to create intricate, microscopic structures that mimic the natural architecture of human tissues.

Mrigakshi Dixit

The filamented light 3D bioprinter can be used to produce aligned tissue constructs.

Zurich University of the Arts / Samuel Thalmann

Think of a future where injuries heal faster, diseases are cured more effectively, and lab-grown meat is a reality. This future is one step closer, thanks to the innovative work of Dr. Hao Liu from ETH Zurich.

Liu uses laser technology to create intricate, microscopic structures that mimic the natural architecture of human tissues.

These structures, made from a special type of gelatin, serve as scaffolds for growing cells. By carefully controlling the laser, Liu and his team can create highly aligned microfilaments (protein filaments). The filaments replicate the precise structure found in tissues like muscles, tendons, and nerves.

For this, the researchers have created a compact bioprinter to develop biological tissues with microfilament structures. He is now working to bring this technology to market.

“Our aim is to create human tissue models for high-throughput drug screening and other applications,” Liu said.

The human body is composed of various tissues, each with specific structures and functions. These tissues, like muscles, tendons, connective tissue, and nervous tissue, exhibit organized cellular arrangements. This organization is crucial for their proper functioning.

To replicate natural tissue structures in the lab, researchers create 3D scaffolds using bioprinters. These scaffolds serve as a template for growing cells, resulting in perfectly structured tissue.

Engineered tissues can be used for various purposes, including surgical replacements, medical research, and food production. Interestingly, they can repair damaged nerves, model diseases for drug testing, and produce lab-grown meat.

In this work, Liu first printed tissue scaffolds and then used a novel method to create highly aligned, fine filaments.

He utilized a light-sensitive gelatin, which transitions from liquid to solid when exposed to laser light.

“Where we expose it with a laser, it solidifies into hydrogel. Wherever the laser can’t reach, the gelatine remains liquid,” Liu said.

He successfully created microfilaments within the hydrogel, comparable in size to the fibrous components found in natural tissues. Subsequently, he cultivated cells on this scaffold to generate aligned tissue structures.

The filamented light (FLight) 3D bioprinter utilizes a unique optical phenomenon to create highly aligned microfilament structures within a hydrogel matrix.

Laser beams exhibit uneven light intensity, with areas of high and low energy.

When a light-sensitive material is exposed to such a beam, it solidifies unevenly, forming parallel, thread-like structures with channel-like spaces between them.

These structures, with diameters ranging from 2 to 20 micrometers, mimic the natural arrangement of many body tissues. When cells are introduced into these scaffolds, they grow along the channels, resulting in aligned tissue constructs.

“The optical phenomenon that creates the filament microstructures in the gel has long been known to physicists and material scientists. But it hadn’t yet been used in biology; we’re the first,” Liu said.

Utilizing this printing method, the team has produced tissue constructs similar to muscle, tendon, nerve, and cartilage tissues. ETH Zurich has patented this technology.

Stay up-to-date on engineering, tech, space, and science news with The Blueprint.

By clicking sign up, you confirm that you accept this site's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Mrigakshi Dixit Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, The Weather Channel and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.

a day ago

Mrigakshi Dixit