Breakthrough in 3D printing: New hope for type 1 diabetes!

Breakthrough in 3D printing: New hope for type 1 diabetes!

ESOT-Kongress 2025, Deutschland - A international team of scientists at the ESOT Congress 2025 A groundbreaking technology presented: Functional Langerhans Islands, which were produced using 3D printing. This innovation aims to significantly improve the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a serious chronic disease in which the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are destroyed by an autoimmune reaction. These cells are crucial for the regulation of the blood glucose concentration.

The printed Langerhans Islands consist of a special biotine ink, which is made of alginate and de-cellularized human pancreatic tissue. The results of the study show that the island structures remain alive and functional for up to three weeks. They have an impressive cell survival rate of over 90 percent and showed a strong insulin reaction to glucose. These properties are crucial for more effective and less invasive treatment of diabetes.

innovative technologies promote treatment

The possible implantation of the 3D printed islands directly under the skin only requires a minimally invasive intervention that only requires a local anesthetic and a small cut. The printed islands not only enable a better glucose reaction, but also represent a significant improvement in insulin release compared to conventional island preparations. On the 21st day after the implantation, the constructs even showed a stronger ability to regulate blood sugar and retain their structure without clumsy or disintegrating, which is due to the porous architecture that is due to the flow of oxygen and nutrients improved.

The Langerhans Islands themselves are collaborations from various cell types, which are responsible for the production of hormones such as insulin and glucagon. While beta cells secrete insulin that lowers the blood sugar levels, alphazelles produce glucagon, which increases the blood sugar levels. The defects in secretion and the death of beta cells are the main causes of diabetes mellitus, with both type 1 and type 2 affected. According to the International Diabetes Federation Affect over 400 million people worldwide from this disease.

3D printing in medicine

The use of 3D printing technologies, i.e. additive manufacturing, is becoming increasingly important in medicine. This method enables the tailor -made production of implants, prostheses and other medical devices, which not only improves the treatment of patients, but also increases efficiency. According to a study by Research and Markets, the market for 3D-printed medical devices will grow to $ 4.9 billion by 2026 and increase with an annual growth rate of 24 %. Innovative companies such as Organovo and Aspect Biosystems work on the development of bioprinted tissues and organs, which illustrates the enormous potential of this technology.

Progress in 3D printing could significantly change the medical landscape in the coming years. With the production of functional organic printed organs, the treatment methods for numerous diseases could be revolutionized. The latest developments in the field of biomedical applications of 3D printing offer promising approaches that can also open up new perspectives for the therapy of diabetes.