3D printing provider 3D Systems has signed a joint development agreement with regenerative medicine company CollPlant Biotechnologies. The agreement will see the two companies collaborate to develop tissue and scaffold bioprinting processes for the biomedical industry.
The sci-fi sounding dream of 3D printing human organs remains just that, but bioprinting—3D printing with living cells—has begun to show promise. For example, researchers have successfully bioprinted bionic ears and aortic valve conduits from living cells. Seeking to accelerate this fascinating technology, 3D Systems and CollPlant hope to create integrated bioprinting technology, incorporating both the 3D printing hardware (3D Systems’ forte) and bio-inks, the materials used in bioprinting (that’s where CollPlant comes in).
“We strongly believe that our proven rhCollagen is the finest building block for regenerative medicine tissues and scaffolds available today,” said Yehiel Tal, CEO of CollPlant Biotechnologies. rhCollagen is shorthand for recombinant human collagen, CollPlant’s proprietary plant-derived collagen formulation. Collagen is the most common protein in the human body, and rhCollagen serves as the foundation for all of CollPlant’s bio-inks.
“3D Systems is excited to work with CollPlant to develop groundbreaking bioprinted tissue and scaffold technologies,” said 3D Systems CEO Chuck Hull. “We believe 3D printing to be a key technology forregenerative medicine, and this collaboration is one of many we are entering to play an integral role in this exciting field.Combining our innovative 3D printing technologies with CollPlant’s rhCollagen-based bio-inks has the potential to make a significant impact in bioprinting and regenerative medicine.”
For more bioprinting news, read Discovery of New Method Speeds Up Precision 3D Bioprinting.