Key points from article :
Researchers at Galway University have developed a groundbreaking 4D bioprinting technique that mimics how cells change shape during natural organ development. Published in Advanced Functional Materials, the study focused on bioprinting heart tissue, revealing that cell-generated forces can guide shape-morphing in printed tissues, enhancing their structure and function. The findings mark a major step forward in bioprinting methods, which have traditionally aimed to replicate the final anatomy of organs rather than their dynamic developmental processes.
Lead researcher Ankita Pramanick highlighted that the new approach, which uses programmable and predictable shape-morphing, significantly improved the maturity of bioprinted heart tissues. This process mirrors the natural transformation of the human heart from a simple tube into its complex four-chambered structure. By enabling shape changes, the printed tissues exhibited stronger and faster beating, demonstrating enhanced functionality.
Andrew Daly, Associate Professor at Galway University and the study's principal investigator, emphasized that while this technique addresses a key challenge in bioprinting—the limited maturity of printed tissues—it is still in early stages. Future advancements will require incorporating additional elements like blood vessels to sustain larger constructs in laboratory settings. Daly expressed optimism, stating that this innovation brings researchers closer to creating functional bioprinted organs, which could transform cardiovascular medicine and beyond.
