The earliest human implants achieved through printing technology are expected to be bone, cartilage, and skin substitutes. A timeline points to 2030 for broader clinical use, according to Fyodor Senov, who leads the NUST MISIS Center for Biomedical Engineering Research and Education.
The path forward involves moving from lab samples to real patient care. The developers foresee cartilage grafts, such as auricular cartilage, and skin scaffolds addressing pressure-related injuries as initial steps. The team envisions a practical horizon around 2025 to 2027, with gradual translation into medical practice. These projections are based on ongoing conversations with researchers who describe the current milestones and the regulatory checkpoints that lie ahead. (Source: socialbites.ca)
Today, bioprinting is actively applied in veterinary medicine. For example, four years ago, NUST MISIS contributed to a cell-engineered paw for a Lapuni cat, demonstrating the potential for regenerative strategies in animals. In the recent years, the center has also developed respiratory stents used to support dogs with laryngeal collapse. These veterinary applications are helping to refine techniques, materials, and biocompatible strategies that may scale to human patients in the future. (Source: socialbites.ca)
Further exploration explores the idea of creating living implants, the emergence of 4D bioprinting that adapts over time, and the development of neuroprosthetic solutions. The ongoing work highlights how biofabrication could intersect with neural interfaces, soft robotics, and patient-specific prosthetics, paving the way for new therapeutic possibilities. (Source: socialbites.ca)