Tuesday, 08 February 2022 11:53

Heidelberg: first approaches for a pancreas from the 3D printer

Gabriel Salg, Scientific Project Manager at the Department of Surgery at Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), along with his team, is working on an artificially created pancreas produced in a 3D printer. They want to be able to supply patients with a new "organ" in the future.


The researchers have already developed a prototype: it consists of a hydrogel and the living cell material, which can be printed as ink in a three-dimensional form. The tissue-like structure can be supplied with necessary nutrients and transport waste away.

The goal of the project is that such a 3D bio-printed organ will eventually be able to take over the functions of the natural pancreas like the production and secretion of insulin.

Source and more information:
https://www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de/newsroom/insulinproduzierende-zellen-aus-dem-3d-biodrucker/