BLOC-PRINT

BLOC-PRINT: Bio-printing assisted surgery: skin and cartilage

The BLOC-PRINT project addresses the problem of the availability of autologous grafts (from the host to graft) in the field of restorative medicine, especially for the grafting of skin and cartilage. The differentiated approach of the project is the use of 3D printing of cells from biopsies to create new tissues usable as autologous grafts. The patients involved here are victims of trauma either from fire or civil accidents or from military explosions. Patients can also be sports professionals and the physically demanding professions such as the territorial army. The project will carry out feasibility (TRL 3) and demonstration (TRL 5) studies of tools and processes for the production of re-implantable fabrics using 3D bio-printing.

The two main deliverables of the project are the impression of dermis/epidermis directly on an animal model (pigs). Thanks to an automated arm equipped with a bio-extruder as well as the printing of cartilages and their implantation in small animals (rats).