University of Galway researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough in bioprinting technology by developing tissues that can change shape through cell-generated forces—similar to natural organ development. This innovative approach, focusing on heart tissue creation, brings us closer to producing functional bioprinted organs.
The research team’s novel method addresses a crucial limitation in traditional bioprinting by incorporating dynamic shape changes observed in embryonic development. Unlike conventional approaches that attempt to print the final organ shape directly, this technique allows printed tissues to undergo controlled morphing processes, much like how a simple tube transforms into a complex four-chambered heart during natural development.
Lead researcher Ankita Pramanick’s findings show that this shape-morphing significantly improves both structural and functional maturity of bioprinted heart tissues, opening new possibilities in disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine.