Key points from article :
United Therapeutics and 3D Systems has showcased 3D printed human lung scaffold at the recent LIFE ITSELF conference.
They are working together for several years on the development of their Print to Perfusion process.
Planning to cellularize the scaffold with a patient’s own stem cells and are now demonstrating gas exchange in animal models.
More than 2,500 patients receiving a lung transplant in the US during 2021, and 1,075 currently on the lung transplant list.
"[] We hope to have these personalized, manufactured lungs cleared for human trials in under five years." said Dr. Martine Rothblatt, United Therapeutics’ Chairperson and CEO.
The firm has acquired 3D bioprinter developer Allevi, and bought volumetric Biotechnologies for $400 million.
It claims a record 44 trillion voxels that lay out 4,000 km of pulmonary capillaries and 200 million alveoli.
"These lung designs can be printed in as little as three weeks-" said 3D Systems Executive Vice President and CTO Chuck Hull.
