Revolutionising Drug Testing: IPFL’s Micro 3D Printing Services

At the forefront of innovative medical technologies, 3D bioprinting has emerged as a groundbreaking tool, fundamentally transforming the approach to pharmaceutical research and development. With a legacy of over five decades in precision plastic component manufacturing, IPFL is proud to be constantly advancing our Micro 3D Printing services, aimed at revolutionising drug testing and reducing reliance on animal models.

The cutting-edge technology utilised by IPFL, particularly PµSL 3D Printing, including the sophisticated PµSL (Projection Micro Stereolithography) processes offered by BMF (Boston Micro Fabrication), enables the production of intricate three-dimensional structures with exceptional resolution. These capabilities are crucial for creating complex microfluidic channels, lab-on-a-chip, organ-on-a-chip, and body-on-a-chip devices that are significantly more compact and accurate in mimicking human physiology.

A recent development by scientists from the University of Edinburgh highlights the immense potential of this technology. They have pioneered a 3D-printed body-on-chip device that could potentially replace the use of animals in early-stage drug testing. Currently, Europe utilises approximately 80,000 animals annually in such research. IPFL’s microfluidic development supports reducing these numbers but also enhances the efficiency and accuracy of pharmaceutical testing.

These devices can illustrate how a drug circulates and interacts within human tissues and organs. Equipped with compartments that simulate major organs connected by a network mimicking the human circulatory system, it allows for a precise study of drug effects on the human body without the ethical and logistical complexities of animal testing.