Mini 3D printer could enable on-site tissue repair inside human body

Researchers at the University of Stuttgart, led by Andrea Toulouse, have developed a miniaturized 3D printer capable of creating living tissue directly inside the human body. This innovative device uses a glass optical fiber thinner than a pencil lead, equipped with a tiny 3D-printed lens no larger than a grain of salt, to focus laser light and cure bio-inks layer by layer with micrometer precision. This approach aims to overcome the limitations of traditional bioprinting, which requires implanting pre-grown tissues and relies on large, less precise printers unsuitable for in-body use. The project, supported by a $2 million grant from the Carl Zeiss Foundation, combines photonics, biotechnology, and precision engineering to enable endoscopic 3D printing of complex tissue structures at the cellular scale. Collaborating with experts in biomaterials, the team is also developing biodegradable bio-inks compatible with living cells to ensure safe integration into the body. By integrating their research into the Bionic Intelligence Tüb