Key points from article :
A major leap in 3D bioprinting has brought scientists closer to creating fully functional, living tissues that could one day be used to treat diseases like Type 1 diabetes. In a new study published in Science Advances, researchers led by Professor Adam Feinberg from Carnegie Mellon University showcase an enhanced version of their FRESH (Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels) bioprinting technique. This method allows soft, biologically accurate structures to be printed from collagen—the most abundant protein in the human body—enabling more realistic tissue models than ever before.
Until now, microphysiologic systems, or “organs-on-a-chip,” have mostly been made from synthetic materials like silicone, which can’t fully mimic natural biology. The FRESH technique changes that, letting scientists build detailed vascular networks—similar in size to human capillaries—entirely out of living materials such as collagen, proteins, and cells. This results in more lifelike tissues where cells behave more naturally, significantly improving research and therapeutic potential.
The team demonstrated this by printing a centimeter-scale, pancreatic-like tissue capable of producing insulin in response to glucose—an essential step toward potential diabetes treatment. The technology, now being commercialized by FluidForm Bio, has already shown promising results in animal models and may enter human trials in the coming years.
