AAAS release

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1088201

3D printing breakthrough: Scientists create functional human islets for type 1 diabetes treatment

 A team of international scientists has made a major leap forward in diabetes research by successfully 3D printing functional human islets using a novel bioink. Presented today at the ESOT Congress 2025, the new technology could pave the way for more effective and less invasive treatment options for people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

The breakthrough involved printing human islets – the insulin-producing clusters of cells in the pancreas – using a customised bioink made from alginate and decellularised human pancreatic tissue. This approach produced durable, high-density islet structures that remained alive and functional for up to three weeks, maintaining strong insulin responses to glucose and showing real potential for future clinical use.

Traditional islet transplants are typically infused into the liver, a process that can result in significant loss of cells and limited long-term success. In contrast, the 3D-printed islets in this study were designed to be implanted just under the skin, a simple procedure requiring only local anaesthesia and a small incision. This minimally invasive approach could offer a safer and more comfortable option for patients.

“Our goal was to recreate the natural environment of the pancreas so that transplanted cells would survive and function better,” explained lead author Dr. Quentin Perrier. “We used a special bioink that mimics the support structure of the pancreas, giving islets the oxygen and nutrients they need to thrive.”

To keep the fragile human islets safe during printing, the team created a gentler way to print by fine-tuning key settings – using low pressure (30 kPa) and a slow print speed (20 mm per minute). This careful approach reduced physical stress on the islets and helped keep their natural shape, solving a major problem that had held back earlier bioprinting attempts.

In laboratory tests, the bioprinted islets stayed alive and healthy, with over 90% cell survival. They also responded better to glucose than standard islet preparations, releasing more insulin when it was needed. By day 21, the bioprinted islets showed a stronger ability to sense and react to blood sugar levels – an important sign that they could work well after being implanted. Importantly, the constructs maintained their structure without clumping or breaking down, overcoming a common hurdle in earlier approaches.

Additionally, the 3D-printed structures featured a porous architecture that enhanced the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the embedded islets. This design not only helped maintain cell health but also promoted vascularisation, both of which are critical for long-term survival and function after transplantation.

“This is one of the first studies to use real human islets instead of animal cells in bioprinting, and the results are incredibly promising,” noted Dr. Perrier. “It means we’re getting closer to creating an off-the-shelf treatment for diabetes that could one day eliminate the need for insulin injections.”

The team is now testing the bioprinted constructs in animal models and exploring long-term storage options, such as cryopreservation, that could make the therapy widely available. They are also working on adapting the method for alternative sources of insulin-producing cells to overcome donor shortages, including stem-cell-derived islets and xeno-islets (from pigs).

“While there is still work to be done, this new bioprinting method marks a critical step toward personalised, implantable therapies for diabetes. If clinical trials confirm its effectiveness, it could transform treatment and quality of life for millions of people worldwide,” Dr. Perrier concluded.

ENDS

Note to editors:

A reference to the ESOT Congress 2025 must be included in all coverage and/or articles associated with this study.

For more information or to arrange an expert interview, please contact Luke Paskins on press@esot.org.

About the study author:

Dr. Quentin Perrier is a rising star in beta cell replacement. His research focuses on the application of cutting-edge, regenerative medicine-inspired biotechnologies to islet transplantation. He is conducting groundbreaking research at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in the United States, under the mentorship of Professors Amish Asthana, Alice Tomei, Sang Jin Lee and Giuseppe Orlando.

Coinvestigators in the research endeavour were Wonwoo Jeong, Arunkumar Rengaraj, Lori N Byers, Grisell Gonzalez, Emma Peveri, Jake Miller, Rita Bottino, Alexei V. Mikhailov, Christopher Fraker, Emmanuel C Opara, Alice Tomei, Sang Jin Lee, Giuseppe Orlando, and Amish Asthana.

The research was funded by Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF (PI: Giuseppe Orlando).

https://www.esotcongress.org/press-release-sunday

Admission Guidelines for 2025 Undergraduate Applicants, UNIST

Wonwoo Jeong

(Major in Life Science/Mechanical Engineering, Wake Forest Regenerative Medicine Research Institute)

Q1. Please introduce what you are currently doing.

A1. I have been working as a researcher since 2023 at the Wake Forest Regenerative Medicine Institute, which has the world's best research facilities and conducts in-depth regenerative medicine research. I am conducting research to create artificial organs using bioprinting. Together with various research teams, we are developing an artificial pancreas for patients with type 1 diabetes, a cancer tissue platform for patient-specific malignancy assessment, complex muscle tissue, and soft tissue reconstruction technology based on patient-derived adipose tissue.

Q2. Why did you choose UNIST during high school and what did you like about living at UNIST?

A2. When I was in high school, I voluntarily went on a college tour, and I liked everything about UNIST, including the dormitories and school accessibility, research facilities, great library, and scholarships. Also, when I was in high school, I had the opportunity to do research for a science exhibition at UNIST, and the professors and doctors who helped me at the time were so caring and helpful that I really wanted to go to UNIST. While living at UNIST, I was a vocalist for the volunteer club Danbi and the music club Unplugged.

Q3. Did living and studying at UNIST help you get your current job?

A3, UNIST's English classes, free choice of major, cutting-edge research equipment, students support allowed me to grow. In particular, I began undergraduate research in my second year of college, and my undergraduate major in life sciences/mechanical engineering helped me easily learn the principles and create applications when encountering bioprinting technology. Also, while doing an integrated master and doctoral program in the bioprinting laboratory, I was able to focus more on my research by also serving in the military.