ETH Zurich-Led Study Produces Functional 3D Printed Ear Cartilage, Paving Way for Clinical Reconstruction

by Medical

Researchers from ETH Zurich, the Friedrich Miescher Institute, and the Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne have leveraged 3D printing to engineer elastic ear cartilage with mechanical properties closely matching natural tissue. Using human ear cartilage cells, the team produced constructs that retained shape and flexibility in animal models for six weeks, marking a significant step toward patient-specific, lab-grown ear replacements.

Croom Medical breaks ground on ACOT orthopaedic manufacturing and R&D facility in Limerick

by Medical

Croom Medical, an Ireland-based contract manufacturer of orthopaedic implants, has broken ground on a 38,000-square-foot expansion at its manufacturing campus in Croom, County Limerick. Called the Advanced Centre of Orthopaedic Technologies (ACOT), the project marks the largest single investment in the company’s 42-year history. Construction is now underway, with completion expected by the end of 2026.

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Materialise adds custom-made PEEK implants to cranio-maxillofacial portfolio

by Medical

Materialise NV, a Belgium-based 3D printing software and medical device company, has introduced custom-made implants made from polyetheretherketone (PEEK) to its cranio-maxillofacial (CMF) portfolio. Surgeons can now select either titanium or the high-performance polymer for patient-specific reconstructions while using the same digital planning and case management system. Availability covers Europe, excluding Switzerland.

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MIT Introduces MagMix to Reduce Cell Settling in 3D Bioprinting, Addresses Key Limitation

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Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created MagMix, a compact magnetic system that actively prevents cell settling during 3D bioprinting, producing more uniform and functional tissues. The innovation addresses a key limitation in biofabrication: sedimentation in bioinks—a mixture of living cells and hydrogels—which can cause clogging, uneven cell distribution, and inconsistent tissue quality, making it difficult to print large or complex tissues reliably.

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Teams Selected by ARPA-H to Develop Patient-Specific Bioprinted Organs

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The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has announced the first recipients of its Personalized Regenerative Immunocompetent Nanotechnology Tissue (PRINT) program. The selected research teams from Carnegie Mellon University, Wake Forest University, the Wyss Institute, University of California San Diego, and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center will develop advanced bioprinted organs, including livers and kidneys, designed to function without immunosuppressive drugs by using patient-specific cells or those from biobanks.

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Nivalon Leverages AI and 3D Printing to Create Personalized, Motion-Preserving Spinal Implants

by Medical

U.S. company creating patient-specific spinal implants Nivalon Medical Technologies has developed what it describes as the first fully patient-specific spinal implant that preserves natural motion without metal components. The device combines AI-driven design with advanced ceramic 3D printing, using a zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) structure and a flexible core to replicate spinal movement.