A team from EPFL has developed the first bioprinter small enough to be ingested, which can navigate through the digestive system and apply bio-ink directly onto injured tissues to aid in their recovery.
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Injuries to the soft tissues of the digestive system, such as ulcers or bleeding, are currently only treatable through some type of surgery, which is invasive and might not provide a lasting solution. Bioprinting is becoming a promising approach that applies biocompatible "ink"—typically composed of natural polymers from seaweed—directly onto the damaged area, forming a structure that supports new cell development. However, similar to conventional surgical instruments, these bioprinters are often large and necessitate the use of anesthesia.
At the same time, "untethered" technologies are being created to carry out medical treatments without being connected to outside equipment. For instance, ingestible "smart capsules" can be directed to areas where medication is needed using external magnets. However, these devices are built to move through liquids, and their movement becomes uncertain when they come into contact with tissue walls.
Alternatively, bioprinting necessitates direct contact with tissue. Recently, a group from the Laboratory for Advanced Fabrication Technologies at EPFL's School of Engineering has developed MEDS (Magnetic Endoluminal Deposition System): the first swallowable bioprinter capable of being directed to affected areas to print tissue inside the body.published in Advanced Science, the technology creates an opportunity for a new form of non-invasive medical treatment.
"By integrating the concepts of in-situ bioprinters with the drug delivery mechanisms of smart capsules, we can imagine a new type of device: a pill-like, ingestible bioprinter," says lab director Vivek Subramanian.
Minimally invasive repair
MEDS resembles a ballpoint pen, but instead of ink, it uses a living bio-gel. The device is about the size of a pill and includes a small chamber filled with bio-ink along with a spring-plunger system that expels the material. Without any internal electronics, the release is activated by an external near-infrared laser that can safely pass through body tissues. As the bio-ink is released, the capsule is precisely controlled using an external magnet attached to a robotic arm, similar to operating a joystick.
During their experiments, the EPFL team utilized their bioprinter to mend artificial ulcers of different sizes on simulated stomach tissue, as well as to close a simulated bleeding incident. In in-vivo trials conducted at a certified animal research facility in the United States, the researchers also effectively employed their device to apply bio-ink within the digestive systems of rabbits. Throughout these tests, the team monitored the capsule's motion through X-ray fluoroscopy, highlighting the device's potential—capable of being removed orally via magnetic guidance—for minimally invasive repair.
Scientists highlight that besides shielding ulcers from stomach acids, the bio-ink can be mixed with drugs or cells to enhance the healing process.
"In our controlled laboratory experiments, the cell-laden bio-ink maintained its structural stability for more than 16 days, indicating its potential as a 'micro-bioreactor' capable of releasing growth factors and attracting new cells to aid in wound healing," states Ph.D. student Sanjay Manoharan.
He points out that although these results are promising, their relevance in living organisms must be confirmed through further research. "In general, our findings highlight the essential role of MEDS in upcoming bioprinting efforts. Moving forward, we aim to enhance its functionality for use in blood vessels and the tissues of the abdominal wall (peritoneum)."
More information:Sanjay Manoharan and colleagues, A Pill That Prints—An Ingestible Bioprinter for Non-Invasive Structured Bioink Deposition,Advanced Science (2025). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202512411
Provided by École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
This narrative was first released onMedical Xpress.