NIT Rourkela secures patent for bio-ink achieving 90% cell viability in 3D bioprinting

INDIA – NIT Rourkela has secured a patent for a novel bio-ink combining Bovine Serum Albumin, Sodium Alginate, and polyelectrolyte complexes, achieving over 90 percent cell viability in lab trials for bone and cartilage repair applications.

The research team developed the bio-ink to address a critical limitation in 3D bioprinting: the lack of materials that combine mechanical strength, biological compatibility, and printability.

The patented technology is titled “A High Shape-Fidelity Protein-Polysaccharide Composite Bioink for 3D Bioprinting.”

How the Bio-Ink Works

The blend creates a bioactive system that supports cell growth while maintaining structural fidelity during and after the printing process.

On lab scale trials, the research team found the developed bio-ink mimics the extracellular matrix of bone tissue, providing sites for cell attachment and promoting cell adhesion, proliferation, and overall biological response.

Additionally, the printed scaffolds were found to have strong mechanical properties, helping them retain shape and functionality post-printing.

Experiments showed that scaffolds containing 2 percent PEC-GC achieved over 90 percent cell viability. The bio-ink can be effectively used in bone and cartilage repair applications.

Why This Matters for Bioprinting

3D bioprinting uses bio-inks to fabricate tissue-like structures layer by layer, similar to how conventional 3D printers use plastic filaments.

However, unlike plastic filaments, bio-inks must remain viable (cells must survive the printing process), bioactive (cells must function normally), and mechanically stable (the printed structure must hold its shape).

NIT Rourkela’s formulation addresses all three requirements simultaneously.

The bio-ink’s ability to enable fabrication of patient-specific, tissue-like structures opens new avenues in personalised healthcare and therapeutic applications.

For the printing industry, this represents an extension of additive manufacturing into life sciences, a sector where precision, sterility, and material science converge.

Next Steps

As the next step, the research team plans to undertake animal studies to further establish the safety and efficacy of the developed bio-ink, followed by clinical studies for validation.

The technology holds significant potential for regenerative medicine.

When Printing Meets Medicine

A 3D printer that prints plastic is a machine.

A 3D printer that prints living tissue is a medical device. NIT Rourkela’s patent bridges that gap with a bio-ink that keeps cells alive, supports bone growth, and holds its shape. For patients needing cartilage or bone repair, that is not just printing, it is healing.

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