3D printing in the field of health is a well-established and well-known tool on a global scale. It called for the adaptation of the medical community, rethinking medical protocols, and has improved the efficiency and effectiveness of treatments. On the other hand, bioprinting still raises questions, but sounds like the new tool that could potentially revolutionize the industry.
CataloniaBio & HealthTech has debated the two tools in the 25th edition of the Lessons Learned forum, on October 7 at the Barcelona Science Park (PCB) and online (hybrid format) with entrepreneurs, hospitals and researchers from Catalonia working with them such as Avinent, the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and the Blood and Tissue Bank.
The welcome was given by Judit Anido, General Director of CataloniaBioHT, highlighting the uniqueness of this edition of Lessons Learned, for reaching the 25th edition and being back to a face-to-face session.
One, consolidated; the other, the young promise
The first to attempt a definition was Albert Giralt, CEO of Avinent, a leading company in dental implants, which has expanded its scope of action around customized solutions for various medical disciplines. "3D printing is the present, a mature technology from which we are beginning to explore new uses; it has a long way to go. But bioimpression is the future and a new paradigm that, in my opinion, will revolutionize medicine,” he says.
But the first revolution has arrived with 3D printing, as Mario Garcia Causapié, from the Department of Infrastructures and Biomedical Engineering, at the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona. For them, this technology has already changed the way they plan to buy surgical tools, for example, "we no longer only have the options on a catalogue, but we can have the tools built as needed." He admitted that the industry will always be far ahead in terms of technology and production, so collaboration is important at this point. On this, Albert Giralt pointed out that "to meet the needs of each case, it is essential that doctors and our engineers are part of the process, together."
First examples of bioprinting
"We are just starting," admitted Joaquim Vives Armengol, head of the area of Development and Production of Advanced Therapies at the Banc de Sant i Teixits. Now they work with decellularized tissues and “the next step will be to see if it is possible for us to generate a bioprinted tissue that allows us to do the same thing, for example, to repair a bone fraction. And to see how and when we can turn it into a scalable process”. He added that "the tractor of our work are the clinicians", again emphasizing the need for common work and collaboration.
For a real example, wirking together with the Blood and Tissue Bank and IBEC, Antoni Bayés-Genís presented the project he is leading from the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital and Institute. They developed a bioimplant to repair damaged tissue in the pericardium after a heart attack. "It's been 15 years of work and we are just now developing the first clinical trial in humans with an engineered tissue product," he says. "The next step would be to use 3D printing to improve our constructs."
One step ahead of regulation
Also in these technologies, advances are ahead of the regulatory. In the case of the bioimplant, Bayés explained how it meant that the AEMPS had to learn new concepts in the authorization process and, in turn, García admitted that they had had to stop some 3D printing projects at the Hospital Clínic because the institution did not find legal protection for them.
In addition to regulation, they also highlighted how public hospitals need to be able to incorporate the figure of engineers and bioengineers to give way to this transformation.
Collaboration is key
"COVID has given us the clearest example," said Bayés. "Working together and with a consensual leadership, combining knowledge of health centres, industry expertise, regulatory know-how, we could be a space for transformation."
Albert Giralt added that "the opportunity is also in the moment and now we are in very early stages in which companies still need to collaborate, we should all take this opportunity."
We look forward to seeing you at the next Lessons Learned session!
What are Lessons Learned?
The Lessons Learned sessions, which kicked off in 2014 promoted by CataloniaBio & HealthTech, are a knowledge forum for professionals in the health, biomedicine and innovative medical technology arena to share experiences and reflections with experts on various strategic areas to boost the competitiveness of companies. The Lessons Learned sessions are also a great opportunity for networking.
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