Bioprinting of Organ Models for the Replacement of Animal Experiments

Our next 3Rs training webinar will feature Prof. Dr. Jens Kurreck from Technische Universität Berlin, who will discuss bioprinting of organ models for the Replacement of animal experiments.

Participants who attend the whole webinar will automatically receive a certificate of attendance.

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Abstract: Bioprinting of Organ Models for the Replacement of Animal Experiments

Bioprinting technologies are a promising approach to produce human organ models that can replace animal experiments. Various methodologies, including microextrusion bioprinting, ink jetting, stereolithography, and digital light processing, are commonly used to generate human tissue models. Our research focuses on the lung and the liver. While first-generation models consisted of single cell type only, more recently developed models combine parenchymal as well as non-parenchymal cell types. The organ models have been employed to study infection processes and the activity of antiviral substances. For influenza A virus (IAV) a proof-of-concept study was carried out to demonstrate that the model can be used to investigate antiviral agents. Furthermore, a bioprinted cancer model was suitable to differentiate between drugs with specific antitumoral activity and substances with a general cytotoxicity. More recently, we developed tissue models with a vascular system. These models were connected to micropumps that supply cells with media and oxygen. Taken together, bioprinted human organ models have the potential for broad applications in biomedical research.