In a groundbreaking leap for regenerative medicine, scientists have developed a tiny bioprinter—no larger than a pill—that can enter the digestive system and print living tissue directly onto damaged areas to treat ulcers and internal bleeding, all without surgery!
A global team of researchers has unveiled a miniature bioprinter that could revolutionize the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions such as stomach ulcers and internal bleeding. The device, which is roughly the size of a pill, is designed like a pen with a spring-loaded tip that releases “bio-ink” precisely onto injured tissues.
The printer contains a small chamber filled with bio-ink and a spring-driven plunger mechanism that pushes the material outward. A near-infrared laser—safe enough to penetrate tissue—is used externally to activate and release the bio-ink.
According to findings published in Advanced Science, the capsule is guided magnetically inside the body through an external magnetic arm, similar to the way a joystick controls movement.
So far, researchers have successfully tested the device on rabbit stomachs. Dr. Sanjay Manoharan, lead researcher from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), stated, “In our lab experiments, the cell-loaded bio-ink maintained its structural integrity for more than 16 days.”
The team hopes to expand testing to include blood vessels and abdominal wall tissues, with the potential to combine the bio-ink with drugs or living cells to accelerate tissue repair.
Researchers also noted that the device can later be safely retrieved orally using magnetic guidance—marking a major step toward non-surgical treatment of stomach ulcers and internal injuries.
