Invetech helps bring bio-printers to life

Australian research and development firm, Invetech, has helped bring the world a step closer to having made-to-order organs with the delivery of the world's first production 3D bio-printer to regenerative medicine company, Organovo.

Organovo developed the NovoGen bioprinting technology and partnered with Invetech in May 2009 to help develop the 3D bio-printers.

The device will allow cells of almost any type to be placed into a 3D scaffold, potentially enabling new tissue or even organs to be constructed.

Invetech plans to ship a number of 3D bio-printers to Organovo during 2010 and 2011 as a part of the instrument development program. Organovo will be placing the printers globally with medical researchers.

In a statement, Dr Fred Davis, managing director of Melbourne-based Invetech, said: “Building human organs cell-by-cell was considered science fiction not that long ago. Through this clever combination of technology and science we have helped Organovo develop an instrument that will improve people’s lives, making the regenerative medicine that Organovo provides accessible to people around the world.”