Spin Out Brings Bioprinting Options to Market

Dynamic Systems Ltd (3DS), a Swansea University life science technology spin out company, has announced the availability of its two 3D bioprinting machines – the Alpha and Omega bioprinters.

3DS, which is based at the University, was founded by Dr Daniel J Thomas, Senior Research Officer in the College of Engineering’s Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating (WCPC).

“These bioprinters are capable of depositing a range of biologically active and biologically compatible materials,” said Dr Thomas.

“The company is working to fabricate 3D transplantable bone and complex tissue constructs on demand.

“This exciting breakthrough in tissue engineering technology developed by 3DS could one day be used to treat severely injured patients and samples of the tissues that the machines produce are currently on display at the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at National Museum of Health and Medicine Silver Spring, Maryland.”

The systems use a layer-by-layer additive fabrication method for building three-dimensional functional living macro tissues systems, using biologically active materials.  These stem cellular-based materials have measurable biological properties which later mature into a living tissue structure.

The Alpha Series system is a single extrusion bone tissue fabrication platform which produces calcium phosphate-based bone for regenerating severe non-stabilised fractures.

The dual extrusion 3Dynamic Omega Series bioprinter is used to make three dimensional soft tissue constructs. Currently this is capable of producing heterogeneous tissues which are used for pharmaceutical testing trials.This technique is also being explored as a method for bioprinting different tissues including; muscle, adipose and skin. With this technology, techniques are being developed which could be an effective means toward producing transplantable complex tissues on demand.

Dr Thomas added: “3DS easy-to-use technology could see a greater adoption of bioprinting research and further innovation in the short-term by enabling researches in the field to effectively produce experimental tissues and multiple tissue types on demand.”