Bioprinting devices in vivo
Aims
To deliver an interdisciplinary landscape report examining opportunities for bioprinting bioelectronics.
Overview
Electronics are ubiquitous in our everyday lives, underpinning the majority of our daily activities. Electronics increasingly underpin our healthcare systems worldwide, and telemedicine represents an increasingly important domain of healthcare, with potential to facilitate exciting healthcare innovations. The ability to produce structures (especially electronics) inside living organisms via additive manufacturing is a game-changing step towards personalised medical interventions (e.g., bioelectronics, human-machine interfaces). Our research (described in our article “Creating 3D Objects with Integrated Electronics via Multiphoton Fabrication In Vitro and In Vivo” in Advanced Materials Technologies, followed by an editorial “In silico, in vivo” in The Biologist) has the potential to deliver disruptive innovation for bioscience and engineering via the development and exploitation of a new manufacturing approach for bioelectronics pioneered by the team (demonstrated in live Caenorhabditis elegans). Developments/advances in technologies such as these could impact the UK economy, society, etc. The UK has an opportunity to play a world-leading role in this nascent area, and the report provides overviews of bioelectronics, bioprinting, the international landscape and the anticipated trajectory; followed by more detailed analysis of technical aspects and challenges (specifically engineering and natural sciences challenges, manufacturing challenges and bioethics challenges).
Results and Outcomes
Tab Content: For Partners and Engagement
The landscape report examined opportunities for bioprinting bioelectronics (including an overviews of: bioelectronics, manufacturing approaches, opportunities and challenges presented by the technology, the international landscape, and anticipated trajectory), followed by a detailed analysis of technical aspects and challenges (including bioethics) and a conclusion. The report may assist the readership in understanding how advances in technology such as those we have described in our article in Advanced Materials Technologies, followed by an editorial in The Biologist, could impact the UK.
Tab Content: For Academics
The project offered the academic team’s understanding of the opportunities for engagement with the network of advisers of the UK government on all aspects of policy on science and technology. Staff have honed their skills in report writing for non-academic audiences, demonstrate impact from the research and develop professional networks which may unlock opportunities for future research and development activities to benefit the UK’s economy/society.
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