• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Advertise
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Features list
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsor an article
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Subscribe to Newsletter

Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Editorial Sections A-Z
    • Agriculture
    • Aircraft
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Automation
    • Autonomous Vehicles
    • Business
    • Computing
    • Construction
    • Culture
    • Design
    • Drones
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial robots
    • Industry
    • Infrastructure
    • Investments
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Marine
    • Material handling
    • Materials
    • Mining
    • Promoted
    • Research
    • Robotics
    • Science
    • Sensors
    • Service robots
    • Software
    • Space
    • Technology
    • Transportation
    • Warehouse robots
    • Wearables
  • Press releases
  • Events

3D printed organs set to become ‘reality in two decades’

December 17, 2023 by David Edwards

Biotech firms are making progress in developing 3D-printed organs, with recent breakthroughs aiding the production of increasingly intricate tissues. Companies like Vital3D are tackling the challenge with cutting-edge technology, and seeing remarkable results.

In recent years, 3D printing has emerged as a transformative technology for the field of organ transplantation. Doctors are already using 3D-printed skin for burn treatment and wound healing, and this year has seen the first successful use of 3D-printed cartilage for ear reconstruction.

Now, amidst rising demand for organ transplants and a dire shortage of donor organs worldwide, researchers are working toward using 3D printing to produce even more complex structures, like livers, hearts, and kidneys.

Some recent breakthroughs in this effort offer a glimpse of the revolutionary effect that 3D printing could have on the healthcare field in the next few decades.

Recent successes in biotech

There have been several notable successes recently in producing 3D-printed tissues for research applications. For example, researchers have produced small-scale kidney models that replicate the complex structures of human kidneys, and one lab has developed 3D-printed heart tissue that has been successfully transplanted into animals.

According to Vidmantas Šakalys, CEO of Vital3D, a biotechnology company that specializes in 3D bioprinting solutions, taking the step from printing tissues for research applications to transplanting 3D-printed organs into human patients requires major technical innovation, given all the various challenges involved.

Overcoming challenges through biotech

One fundamental challenge is the complexity of human organs, which consist of various cell types, intricate structures, and highly specialized functions.

Šakalys says: “In order to replicate organs’ elaborate structures. Bioprinters must be extremely precise. But they must also be able to work fast, given that they use live cells as raw material.”

To tackle the challenge of balancing speed and accuracy, Vital3D uses cutting-edge femtosecond laser technology, which works quickly and has a precision of up to 1 micron.

Another challenge is biocompatibility. For 3D-printed organs to remain viable and healthy after transplantation, they must have a functional blood supply and they must be compatible with the recipient’s body.

To accomplish this, a network of blood vessels must be printed within printed tissues and organs, and measures must be taken to prevent the recipient’s immune system from rejecting the transplanted organ.

Furthermore, Šakalys highlights regulatory challenges. “Apart from technical complexities, ensuring 3D-printed organs meet medical standards and gain regulatory approval is critical.”

This involves thorough testing and certification to guarantee their safety and efficacy for clinical use, emphasizing the importance of balancing technological innovation with regulatory compliance in advancing bio-printed organs.

Possible timeline for transplantation

Given the complexities involved, it is difficult for experts in the field to provide a precise timeline for when 3D-printed organs will become a viable solution to the shortage of donor organs.

Šakalys says: “The timeline for bioprinted organs as a solution to donor shortages is challenging. Yet, there’s optimism in the field. We anticipate the first bioprinted organ transplants could occur within the next 15 to 20 years.”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket

Related stories you might also like…

Filed Under: Features, Science Tagged With: 3d, bioprinters, human, organs, printed, vital3d

Primary Sidebar

Search this website

Latest articles

  • How Smart Bending and Cutting Systems Are Powering the Next Wave of Industrial Robotics
  • Custom chips are taking over: Why AI, autonomy, and communications can’t rely on general-purpose silicon anymore
  • Mujin establishes global executive team to accelerate expansion of MujinOS
  • Choosing the best truckload logistics provider for your business: What to look for
  • Zimmer Biomet acquires robotic surgery company Monogram Technologies for $177 million
  • China achieves ‘97 percent mechanization rate in cotton farming’ through robotics
  • Sprint Robotics announces 2025 World Conference in Amsterdam to mark 10th anniversary
  • Toyota Research Institute unveils breakthrough in Large Behavior Models that requires ‘80 percent less data’
  • CynLr brings object intelligence and vision of universal factories to UN summit on AI
  • Nordic Dino robot helps airlines deal with insect season

Secondary Sidebar

Copyright © 2025 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT