Organovo, founded in 2007 in San Diego, California, is a company at the forefront of bioprinting technology. This innovative field creates biological structures using living cells, holding immense promise for scientific research and medical applications. Organovo’s work centers on designing and developing functional, three-dimensional human tissues, which are transforming medical research and paving the way for therapeutic breakthroughs.
Understanding 3D Bioprinting
Organovo’s approach to 3D bioprinting involves a specialized process that differs from traditional 3D printing methods. Instead of plastic or metal, bioprinting uses “bio-inks” composed of living cells and a support material. These cells are isolated from human tissues, multiplied in a growth medium, and then combined to create the bio-ink.
The NovoGen Bioprinter® Platform, developed by Organovo, precisely deposits these bio-inks layer by layer to construct complex tissue architectures. After printing, the bio-ink undergoes a hypothermic hold at temperatures between 2°C and 10°C, followed by incubation at 18°C to 37°C, which helps in the development and stability of the tissue. This method is designed to reduce cell death, or apoptosis, in the bioprinted tissue compared to other fabrication techniques.
Working with biological materials presents unique challenges, as maintaining cell viability and functionality throughout the printing and maturation process is crucial. Organovo’s technology ensures the stability and viability of cells by carefully controlling the environment and composition of the bio-ink, which can include a single cell type or a combination, such as renal fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The resulting bioprinted tissues aim to replicate the natural architecture and function of human organs, allowing for more realistic biological models.
Organovo’s Contributions to Drug Discovery
Organovo’s bioprinted tissues are valuable tools in pharmaceutical research and development, particularly for drug toxicity testing and efficacy screening. The company’s “exVive3D Human Liver Tissue” is an example of such a model, designed to provide more accurate and physiologically relevant data than traditional two-dimensional cell cultures or animal models. This 3D liver model can detect various forms of liver injury, including steatosis and fibrosis, which are often missed by conventional in-vitro or in-vivo methods.
These bioprinted human tissues allow pharmaceutical companies and academic research facilities to test drug compounds in a setting that more closely resembles the human body. This capability can help accelerate the drug discovery process by enabling earlier and more efficient assessment of drug safety and efficacy. For instance, Organovo has partnered with companies like Merck to develop 3D printed liver tissues for toxicity testing, and with L’Oréal to produce 3D human skin for safety and efficacy testing of cosmetic products, reducing the need for animal testing.
The ability to induce and study disease progression in these bioprinted tissues, such as inflammatory bowel disease models, allows researchers to observe potential treatments in real-time, measuring safety, efficacy, and mechanism of action. Organovo’s lead therapeutic molecule, FXR314, for inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, has shown promise in their 3D tissue models and is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial.
Organovo’s Contributions to Regenerative Medicine
Beyond drug discovery, Organovo is exploring the potential of bioprinted tissues in regenerative medicine, aiming to address the global shortage of organs and damaged tissues. The long-term vision includes creating fully functional, transplantable organs, though this remains a significant challenge. The company’s technology aims to provide surgeons with tissues on demand, impacting surgical therapy and transplantation.
Current efforts are focused on developing simpler tissues, such as blood vessels or nerve conduits, and eventually progressing to more complex organs. The company has an investigative new drug (IND) application in its long-term plans for bioprinted liver tissue to treat rare diseases. Organovo is also working on stem cell-based 3D bioprinted tissues for conditions like kidney disease, indicating a broader scope for their regenerative medicine applications.
While the creation of entire organs for transplantation is still a future goal, the progress in bioprinting tissues and vascular structures marks significant advancements. The ability to engineer scalable manufacturing for bioprinted tissues through collaborations, such as with the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute, is contributing to this long-term objective. These developments bring closer the possibility of using bioprinted constructs for repairing damaged tissues or as patches for organ repair.