Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, has captured the public imagination in the past decade, as the technology has evolved from being the preserve of science fiction writers to the something that can be performed on commercially available devices in homes around the world. Whilst additive manufacturing has the potential to disrupt multiple technologies, bioprinting is emerging as one of the most transformative applications. Bioprinting uses 3D printing techniques with biomaterials and living cells to create new cellular structures to replicate tissue or even to create novel structures, such as food for people with issues with swallowing. Some of the most exciting implementations of bioprinting are around its interaction with the human body. Below we consider two recent developments in the use of bioprinting in healthcare.
Printing Skin with a Handheld Bioprinter (LIGŌ Device)
In a world-first clinical trial in Sydney, Australia, researchers have developed a 3D bioprinting device called LIGŌ that prints skin directly onto wounds using a patient's own cells.
Developed by Inventia Life Science, this device functions like a high-precision inkjet printer, delivering nano-sized droplets of a custom "bioink" into damaged skin tissue. The bioink is made from the patient’s skin cells mixed with biomaterials that support tissue regeneration, enabling new skin to form. The LIGŌ device can be tailored to print different skin layers depending on wound depth. The device is designed to eliminate the need for traditional skin grafts, reducing pain, infection risk, and recovery time. Currently being trialled on burn victims, LIGŌ may soon be used for chronic wounds like diabetic ulcers and may even be used for more complex tissue repair, including post-cancer excisions and pressure sores.
Bioprinting Inside the Body with Ultrasound (DISP Technology)
Meanwhile, at Caltech, scientists have unveiled a radically different approach: Deep tissue In vivo Sound Printing (DISP), which uses focused ultrasound to 3D print soft materials inside the body – without any incisions.
A liquid bioink is injected into the body, then precisely solidified into tissue-like structures using ultrasound. This triggers a chemical reaction via engineered liposomes (fat-based capsules) that are designed to release cross-linking agents when exposed to heat. These cross-linking agents bind the bioink to form solid structures within tissue. DISP has been used in animal models to print drug-releasing gels near tumours and hydrogel scaffolds deep within muscle tissue. It has also shown potential for printing electronics, adhesives, and living cells. The method avoids surgical trauma, allows for real-time imaging and control, and may be particularly suitable for treating hard-to-reach areas or patients for whom surgery is not an option.
Future Healthcare
These two case studies illustrate the rapid progress being made in personalized, minimally invasive medicine, with bioprinting at the heart of many of the advances being made. From regenerating skin on the surface to printing therapeutic structures deep within the body, bioprinting is moving from the laboratory towards clinical application. The technology offers new opportunities for faster healing, fewer complications, and more precise treatments - positioning bioprinting as a key area in the future of healthcare and medical materials engineering.
This blog has been co-authored by Isobel Stone and Max Bertrand.
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Isobel Stone
Isobel is a Partner and Patent Attorney at Mewburn Ellis. She is an accomplished UK and European patent attorney whose technical expertise spans a wide range of technical fields in the mechanical engineering and materials engineering spaces. Her work extends across the full IP lifecycle: she has extensive experience in original drafting and patent prosecution work, as well as a keen interest in opposition and other contentious matters.
Email: isobel.stone@mewburn.com
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