3D bioprinter spits live cells as 'bio ink'

University of New South Wales engineers are developing an endoscope about a centimetre in width to enter the body non-invasively and print living cells directly on internal damage.

The endoscope's robotic arm enters a patient's body to print "bio ink" straight onto damaged organs and tissues, layering living cells to build a natural band aid.

This method is fast and non-invasive, reducing the risks of infection and speeding up recovery times.

UNSW Biomedical Engineering Scientia senior lecturer Dr Thanh Nho Do told ACM the F3DB bioprinter has the potential to precisely reconstruct three-dimensional wounds inside the body, like gastric wall injuries or damage and disease inside the colon.

The prototype can worm into hard-to-reach areas through small skin incisions or natural orifices "thanks to its flexible body", Dr Do said.

The research team said the bioprinter could be used as an all-in-one endoscope for other surgeries, removing blood clots or colorectal cancers using the prototype's electric scalpel.

Internationally, colorectal cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death, but early treatment and removal has a major effect on the patient's five-year survival rate.

While the prototype is approximately five to seven years away from use on humans, tests on an artificial colon and pig's kidney have been successful, Dr Do said.

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"Bioprinters" are used in healthcare, but current technology is limited to printing a band aid made from living cells and applying it through traditional surgery.

Dr Do said his team's approach solves past problems by printing directly onto the affected area, so the living cells can bond onto the wound and aren't damaged in handling.

Experiments conducted by UNSW engineers found the printed cells were not affected by the process, and the majority of cells were alive post-printing.

The experiments showed the printed cells grew over the next seven days, with four times as many cells counted one week after printing.

The next stage of development for the bioprinter includes testing on living animals to demonstrate its practical use, researchers said.