Indigenous 3D Bio-printer to Print Human Tissues

Indian Tech Startup Avay Biosciences’ 3D Bio-Printer “Mito Plus”, a native state-of-the art bio-printer, has been proven to be effective in printing human tissues.

Bio-printing allows for tissue replication which supports or sustains living cells. This technique can be used as an alternative to organ transplantation. It is possible to create functional human tissues like skin using specially engineered biomaterials and bio-inks.

An indigenous state-of-the-art 3D Bio-Printer ‘Mito Plus’ launched by Indian Tech Startup Avay Biosciences has been found to be helpful in printing human tissues. The Bengaluru Tech Summit, November 16-18 2022 saw the launch of Mito Plus. The prototype of Mito Plus was placed at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, the highest-ranked science research institution according to NIRF Rankings.

Mito Plus is a 3D printer that uses inputs from the prototype developed at IISc’s research laboratory of Dr. Bikramjit Bazu. The advanced version was created by Avay, an IIT Madras alumnus. It is one the most advanced 3D bioprinters in India. Avay Biosciences is a fully indigenous software and hardware developer for Bio 3D printing solutions.

“MITO plus is an advanced bio-printer at its price range which can be used to print a wide range of biomaterials. This printer features an integrated UV curing, HEPA filter, as well as temperature control. This allows the print-head as well as the print-bed to be heated to 80 degrees celsius, and can be cooled down to four degrees celsius. MITO plus can be used for pharmaceutical drug discovery and drug testing applications, it can also be used in cancer biology and cosmetology applications,” said Manish Amin, Chief Executive Officer, Avay Biosciences.

While bio-printers can be used in the same manner as other 3D printers, there is one significant difference. Bio-printers don’t deliver metals or plastics but deposit layers of biomaterials. This allows them to build complex structures, such as skin tissue, liver tissue, and so on. The science and technology of 3D bioprinting offer a unique gift for humanity. Many challenges remain to be overcome.

“There is still a long way to go before we can create fully functioning and viable organs for human transplant,” Amin explained.

“We are working on having our printers develop skin – the most common type of layered tissue that could help victims of severe burns. These tissues can also be used for toxicology screens and other testing mechanisms,” said Suhridh Sundaram, Chief Operating Officer, Avay Biosciences.

Bio-printing usually uses several polymers to try to recreate the extracellular mat (ECM) of the particular cell. Because future research is dependent on the availability of affordable bio-printers, it is vital that they are available. Bioprinting can be used to create artificial meat from animal cells.

Apart from premier Research and Development institutions such as IIT Madras and IISc Bangalore, the tech startup’s customers and collaborators include the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai; National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education And Research (NIPER), Hyderabad; and BITS Pilani (Goa Campus).

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