A French hospital installs a groundbreaking bioprinter to create skin for burn patients

The French Hôpital de la Conception hospital, part of the public system of the University Hospital of Marseille (AP-HM), has made a quantum leap in the adaptation of bioprinting technology in the field of biological tissue production for human transplantation. The hospital installed the Next-Generation Bioprinting (NGB) bioprinter from the French company Poietis, which has been developing its proprietary 4D laser bioprinting technology since 2014. Doctors will work as part of a clinical trial to transplant biodegradable skin tissue using the patient’s own cells.

Contrary to popular devices of this type, the NGB bioprinter is based on a robotic arm. The design and functionalities are the result of cooperation between Poietis and the Laboratory of Cell Culture and Therapy (LCTC) of the AP-HM hospital, which began at the beginning of 2020. According to the French manufacturer, the current methods of producing tissues by the bioprinting method are not good enough to be adapted to the medical sector. Experts at AP-HM and Poietis believe that “production processes must be standardized” and treatments should be more affordable.

The NGB biotransformer has a number of unique features – from the aforementioned robotic arm, through laser orientation, to a completely aseptic work environment. The device is also very fast, allowing you to bioprint 40 square centimeters of skin substitutes in just a few hours.

The hospital will biodegrade the tissue model – Poieskin, patented by Poietis, consisting of a dermal compartment consisting of primary human fibroblasts embedded in a collagen matrix and covered with a layered epidermis derived from primary human keratinocytes. The bioprinting process begins with the formation of the dermis, followed by keratinocytes, epidermal proliferation and stratification at the air-liquid interface.

The bioprinted skin is intended for transplantation in patients suffering from 3rd and 4th degree burns. Of course, the installation is still experimental at the moment, however, doctors and specialists at Poietis strive to be able to implant it in patients.

Source: www.3dprint.com
Cover photo: www.youtube.com