Australia launches a new custom biological 3D printer to revolutionize Type 1 diabetes therapy
Recently, the University of Wollongong, Australia, has introduced a new custom biological 3D printer that may significantly improve the treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes. The device can deposit a special bioink (containing insulin-producing islet cells) into a portable 3D printed stent structure. This method can improve the existing process of implanting islet cells from human donors.
Australia develops innovative 3D printers to revolutionize Type 1 diabetes therapy
The University of Wollongong (UOW) in Australia is rapidly becoming a pioneer in biological 3D printing technology. Recently, the university launched a new custom biological 3D printer that could significantly improve the treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes.
The innovative system was named the Islet Cell Transplant (PICT) Biological 3D Printer and was recently submitted to the South Australian Minister of Health Peter Malinauskas, who in turn handed it over to the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) for use.
Based on this, RAH has become the first hospital in Australia (and possibly the world) to install a PICT biological 3D printer for the treatment of diabetes.
According to UOW, a biological 3D printer can deposit a special type of bioink (containing insulin-producing islet cells) into a portable 3D printed stent structure. This method can improve the existing process of implanting islet cells from human donors to treat patients with severe type 1 diabetes because it is reported to reduce the risk of cell rejection in the recipient.
Prof. Toby Coates from ROH explained: “The PICT printer will enable us to create custom organs that will mix the donor and recipient cells in a unique three-dimensional manner to provide a completely new composite 'tissue and organ' for experimental transplantation.â€
Donor cells derived from the pancreas help diabetics recover their ability to produce insulin, which is required for self-regulation of blood glucose levels. However, as with most transplants today, the recipient's body always rejects the risk of donor cells.
However, with the PICT Bio 3D printer, medical engineers can effectively print implanted stents with better integration rates because they can include donor insulin producing cells and the recipient's own cells. In addition, since the bioprinter can print a variety of cell types, the stent can also contain endothelial cells, which helps vascularize the transplanted islet cells.
The PICT bioprinter at the Royal Adelaide Hospital will be used by ARC's Center for Excellence in Electronic Science (ACES), led by Prof. Gordon Wallace. Thanks to funding from the Australian Research Council's linkage, Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) program, ACES will be able to further develop biological 3D printers for medical applications.
“The ACES of Wollongong University has established a collaborative clinical research network that enables us to cope with major clinical challenges and provide practical solutions through biological 3D printing,†commented Professor Wallace.
He added: "We are working with Professor Toby Coates of the Adelaide Royal Hospital to plan to increase the effectiveness of islet cell transplantation by encapsulating donated islet cells in 3D printed structures to protect them during and after transplantation."
Recently, the Wollongong University received a grant of A$347,000 from ARC to build a state-of-the-art biological 3D printing facility.
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