University wins major funding for 3D bioprinter to enable new research into how the body works
Aston University is to get a state-of-the-art Quantum X bio 3D printer following a grant of £612,176 from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
The team which received the grant is led by Professor Rhein Parri from Aston Pharmacy School, who applied in response to BBSRC’s ALERT 2022 funding call for mid-range equipment for biosciences research.
The Quantum X bio printer, a joint product of BICO companies Nanoscribe and CELLINK, will allow the researchers to print cells in orientations similar to those found in organs in the body, such as the brain and liver.
The structures and orientations of cells, like neurons in the brain, influence how they interact and connect, so being able to print cells and tissues in 3D will enable researchers to study them better and develop a greater understanding of how the body works.
The Quantum X bio makes use of 2-photon polymerisation (2PP) to print 3D structures extremely precisely.
In the 2PP polymerisation process, a laser is focused on a photosensitive liquid that polymerises into a solid where the laser beam hits it.
The laser moves around within the liquid in three dimensions to produce the desired solid structure.
Any remaining liquid is washed off and the structure can then be used.
The Quantum X bio uses biocompatible polymers to print structures containing features down to sizes of 200 nm, opening up many new lines of research.
Other Aston University researchers involved in the grant proposal alongside Professor Parri included Professor Roslyn Bill, Dr Emma Shepherd, Dr Philip Kitchen and Dr John Simms in the School of Biosciences, and Dr Craig Russell and Nathan Suray in Aston Pharmacy School. Paul Gretton and Professor Edik Rafailov in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences were also part of the team.
Professor Parri said: “This new bioprinter will transform our ability at Aston University and the wider West Midlands to conduct 3D printing and make new discoveries in basic biological and tissue engineering research.”
The Quantum X bio is the first bioprinter of its kind to be installed by Nanoscribe in the UK, and will be made available to the wider research community of the Midlands Innovation Universities of Birmingham, Loughborough, Nottingham, Leicester and Warwick. Aston University is preparing a room with a controlled environment to house the printer, and associated cell culture facilities. The bioprinter is expected to be in use from April 2024.
Cecilia Edebo, CEO, CELLINK, said: “At the heart of our mission is the commitment to empower researchers with state-of-the-art bioprinting technologies, fostering new scientific breakthroughs.
“The acquisition of the Quantum X bio by Aston University marks a significant step towards advancing research in tissue engineering and drug discovery within the UK research landscape.
“Together with Nanoscribe, members of the BICO group, we are thrilled to continue our support to the research community and are excited to witness the incredible outcomes that will undoubtedly emerge from the use of this groundbreaking technology.”
