The Next Big Thing for 3D Bioprinting

3D printing technology is exciting for the sheer diversity of its applications. From creating consumer products to consumable food, it seems as though additive manufacturing is slated to impact almost every aspect of our day to day lives.
One of the most important applications for 3D printing lies in the healthcare field. 3D printing’s potential benefits to surgeons, patients, and healthcare professionals has been outlined at length. However, up until this point, most of the progress within this sub-sector of 3D printing has occurred within university labs and other research facilities.

Early stages for bioprinting

Indeed, Sophic Capital reports that 3D bioprinting systems for organ transplant and 3D bioprinting for life science R&D are currently in the earliest stage of the market’s hype cycle. Gartner analysts estimate that it will be another five to ten years before any of these technologies reach the “plateau of productivity,” when market price evens out to its natural value.
However, the future of commercial bioprinting might be closer than expected.Founded in 2012, Nano Dimension (TASE:NNDM, NASDAQ:NNDM) is a young and growing company focused on the research and development of advanced 3D printed electronics. On Thursday, the company announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Nano Dimension Technologies, has filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office for the 3D printing of stem cells.

Interesting developments for Nano Dimension

According to the press release, the patent covers several of aspects related to the 3D printing of human tissues and organs by using stem cells and inkjet technology. For instance, it addresses the possibility of converting MRI and CT scans and images into a 3D structure of organs that can be printed using bioink materials. The patent application also touches upon the use of proprietary software whose algorithm analyzes the 3D structure of a tissue or organ, converting it into two dimensional sections.
The company’s patent application comes on the heels of announcing a successful proof of concept in collaboration with Israel-based Accellta Ltd. Accellta has previously made a name for itself by developing proprietary technologies for the production of stem cells, progenitors and differentiation.   

Investor takeaway

Thus far, the market hasn’t exhibited a substantial response to Nano Dimension’s news. Share prices only increased by 0.57-percent on Thursday, helping to turn around a tough week for the company. However, this is not to say that Nano Dimension’s press release isn’t exciting. Rather, it spells an interesting opportunity for individuals keen on investing in bioprinting on the public market.
Securities Disclosure: I, Morag McGreevey, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Nano Dimension is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.