In the evolving world of 3D printing, you may have heard of printed houses, vehicles, rocket components, and even footwear. The more adventurous might even raise an eyebrow at 3D-printed robots meant for adult entertainment. But how about a 3D-printed kidney? Sounds like a leap, doesn’t it?
Vital3D, a budding Lithuanian company, is set on making this leap a reality. They’re diving headfirst into the realm of bioprinting, where the objective is to generate tangible, living body parts. This industry is expanding, and companies like Vital3D are striving to perfect their techniques, which are as varied as they are innovative. Specifically, Vital3D employs lasers that meticulously layer living cells and biomaterials in a three-dimensional format. Their approach aims to produce tissues that are not just functional but also consistent and scalable.
Why the focus on kidneys, you might ask? The disparity between the demand and supply of organs, especially kidneys, is immense. To put things in perspective, consider this: In the US, over 90,000 patients await a kidney transplant, but a mere 25,000 were fortunate enough to receive one in the past year. This massive gap underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions.
However, bioprinting isn’t a walk in the park. It’s an intricate procedure necessitating advanced equipment, unique materials, and profound medical knowledge to mirror the delicate human anatomy. The kidney, for instance, is a marvel in itself. Housing roughly a million nephrons that drive its function, if you were to line up nephrons from two kidneys, they would span an astonishing 16 kilometers.
Tackling such a complex structure, as Vidmantas Šakalys, the head of Vital3D, notes, presents a challenge: “There’s a constant tug-of-war between speed and accuracy. Current bioprinters, at their best, might require two weeks to print something this detailed. And that’s not ideal for living cells.”
In their quest for the sweet spot between speed and meticulousness, Vital3D has unveiled a groundbreaking technology named FemtoBrush. This tech pivots on a spatial light modulator that deftly modifies the laser beam’s contour. The company purports that this technique introduces an unparalleled adaptability to bioprinting. Not only does the system boast of pinpoint accuracy — up to a thousandth of a millimeter — but it also promises swift execution.
“We’re not just aiming for a breakthrough here,” Šakalys emphasized, “Our vision is to reproduce the intricate vascular network of a kidney, all within a day’s time.”
But, of course, it’s essential to manage expectations. Šakalys is upfront about the technology being in its infancy. Rigorous testing awaits to ensure the bioprinted kidneys are both safe for transplantation and can perform their intended functions. And beyond the technical challenges lie formidable regulatory obstacles.
Still, the horizon looks promising. While you might not see a bioprinted organ advertisement anytime soon, rest assured that remarkable strides are being made behind lab doors.
