Scientists transform living tissue in seconds

The approach, volumetric bioimpression, allows tissues to be formed by projecting a laser into a rotating tube containing a hydrogel filled with stem cells. You can shape the resulting fabric by simply focusing the laser's energy on specific locations to solidify them, creating a useful 3D shape in seconds. After that, simply introduce endothelial cells to add vessels to the tissue.

The tissues obtained currently only measure a few centimeters. That's still enough to be "clinically useful," said EPFL. It has already been used to print heart valves, part of the complex femur and a meniscus. It can also create nested structures.

Although this is definitely not ready for real use, the apps are pretty obvious. The EPFL imagines a new wave of "personalized and functional" organs produced at an "unprecedented speed". This could be helpful for implants and repairs, and could significantly reduce the temptation to use animal tests – you just need to produce organs to simulate the effects. This could be as much an ethical advance as a technical one.