Minimal-Invasive 3D Laser Printing of Microimplants in Organismo

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Multi-photon 3D laser printing is used for in vitro biocompatible scaffolds.
• In vivo tissue engineering is limited to pre-printed scaffolds or bioinks.
• A platform for in vivo/in situ 3D printing of synthetic polymer microimplants is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel platform for minimal-invasive, in situ 3D laser printing of microimplants.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing synthetic polymer-based microimplants directly within living organisms.
• To provide a framework for investigating biological responses to in situ printed constructs.

Main Methods:

• Development of a 3D laser printing platform utilizing one-photon and multi-photon photopolymerization.
• Employment of a commercially available elastomeric ink for biocompatible microimplant fabrication.
• In vivo application and biological response assessment in model organisms (Oryzias latipes and Drosophila melanogaster embryos).

Main Results:

• Successful in situ 3D printing of biocompatible synthetic polymer microimplants within model organisms.
• Demonstration of biological responses to the in situ printed microimplants.
• Establishment of a versatile platform for in vivo microimplant manufacturing.

Conclusions:

• The presented platform enables direct, in vivo 3D manufacturing of microimplants using synthetic polymer-based inks.
• This technology facilitates the study of biological interactions with precisely engineered in situ constructs.
• The platform holds significant potential for advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in vivo.