3D Printing Revolutionizing Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine in Europe

Biomedical technology has been revolutionized by advances in computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), often referred to as three-dimensional (3D) printing. As 3D printers become more accessible and easier to use, researchers are finding new ways to incorporate this technology into their work.¹ 3D bioprinters utilizing natural, synthetic, and hybrid biocompatible materials have successfully been deployed in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, creating artificial corneas, cartilage, 3D cell-culture scaffolds, implantable grafts, and wound patches.^2-3 

3D printing technology is increasingly applied in drug discovery to produce artificial organs, organoids, and microfluidic systems for organ-on-a-chip (OOC) applications, enabling high-throughput screening of pharmaceutical compounds. For instance, Swedish-based Bico has developed a range of 3D cell culture and bioprinting technologies, including Cellink Bionova X for direct-in-well printing and Cellenion sphereOne for automated sorting and isolation of spheroids and organoids, enabling the generation of 3D in vitro models for toxicity testing.⁴

In addition, several companies have explored the role of 3D printing in producing customized drugs. GlaxoSmithKline and Merck Group have evaluated 3D printing to produce drugs for clinical use before moving to commercial-scale manufacturing.^5-6 FABRX, based in the United Kingdom,has created the M3Dimaker ecosystem, enabling the production of personalized medicines tailored to the patient based on the shape, flavor, color, dosage, and release profile. It also supports Polypills, which combine multiple drugs into a single pill. FABRX has been collaborating with AstraZeneca, Evonik Industries, Losan Pharma, Pfizer, and leading academic institutes and hospitals to develop and distribute this technology to improve patient outcomes^.7

High-Resolution Bioprinting Is Critical

Advancements in high-resolution printing and technology have enabled scientists to develop complex, large-scale heterocellular constructs. A variety of fabrication methods have been developed, including extrusion-based bioprinting (EBB), inkjet, laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT), two-photon polymerization (2PP), and vat photopolymerization (VP), which offer high resolution and biofunctionalization solutions.⁸ 

Currently, EBB is the most widely utilized bioprinting technology and employs a mechanical or pneumatic system to extrude bioink materials through a micronozzle. This method is commonly used to create human tissue, from small vessels to whole organs, for surgical use.⁹ Inkjet-based bioprinting was one of the first to be developed. It is a non-contact method that uses printheads to eject single drops of ink from a reservoir. This technology has been used to produce tissue scaffolds because it offers high precision and resolution at low cost, but challenges remain in achieving heterogeneous structures.¹⁰

Conversely, LIFT uses a laser to deposit cells or bioinks onto a substrate accurately. This method allows for the construction of intricate 3D structures with high precision and good cell survival rates. LIFT has been extensively used to produce biomolecule microarrays and different tissue types, including skin, blood vessels, and bone.¹¹ For instance, France-based Poietis Biosystems has teamed up with Servier to use its next-generation LIFT technology to produce liver tissues to improve the detection of drug-induced liver lesions. ¹²

VP and 2PP bioprinting potentially offer the highest resolution and can generate micro- and nanostructures using ultraviolet/visible light or a laser beam, respectively. VP is the second most widespread 3D bioprinting technology and comprises 3 main types: digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal display, and stereolithography. This technology has been utilized in digital dentistry, surgical planning, and medical devices; however, VP is not widely used to print scaffolds for implantation; however, it is useful for investigating cell-scaffold interactions.¹³

Leading European Biotechs Working in the 3D Printing Space

Advances in 3D printing materials and technologies have attracted investor interest, with France-based Healshape completing a US$6.8 million (€6 million) Series A funding round to develop personalized, resorbable bioprinted breast tissue implants.¹⁴ In addition, several high-profile acquisitions have been announced, including Anzu Partners' €20 million deal with Germany-based EnvisionTec in August 2025.¹⁵Several pharma companies have forged strategic alliances with 3D printing companies, including AstraZeneca/FABRX, Eli Lilly/Triastek, Servier/Poietis Biosystems, and Pfizer/FABRX. ^{7, 12,16}

Several European biotech companies are pushing the frontiers of 3D bioprinting technologies forward through the development of bioinks, high-resolution bioprinting hardware, and platforms for medical-device bioprinting (Table).

Recent Developments in Bioinks

A bioink is a printable material made from living cells encapsulated in a supportive hydrogel, designed specifically for 3D bioprinters that build living tissue layer by layer.¹⁷ Bioink formulations use hydrogels and polymers to create live organs and 3D scaffolds to treat wounds; repair muscle, bone and tissues; and deliver drugs. 

Belgium-basedBIO INX is among Europe’s leading startups specializing in bioinks for bioprinting. The company has developed photopolymerizable bioinks suited for volumetric, deposition-based, DLP, and high-resolution multiphoton bioprinting, enabling the creation of complex geometries at the micrometre scale. Its biodegradable polyester resin, DEGRA INX, functions as a biodegradable cage or scaffold around cell clusters, enhancing cell viability and extracellular matrix production to form functional tissues. This technology has been utilized to produce artificial corneas, cartilage, and organ-on-chip systems. TU Wien researchers successfully demonstrated that injectable, DEGRA INX, cell-based therapy facilitated the regeneration of disc tissue in patients with lower back pain caused by intervertebral disc damage.¹⁸

Similarly, CELLINK (part of the Bico group) has launched CELLINK Vivoink, a medical-grade bioink specially designed for optimal printability, mechanical stability, and cell viability. Ossiform has used this technology to provide patient-matched, natural, and resorbable bone implants, resulting in improved clinical outcomes.^19-20

Progress in High-Resolution Bioprinting

Vital3D Technologies, based in Switzerland and founded in 2021, has created the proprietary 2PP bioprinting platform called FemtoBrush, which offers micrometre-scale resolution within centimetre-scale build volumes. This platform has facilitated the development of a wide product range, including vascular stents, 3D organoid scaffolds, implantable grafts, wound patches, and microfluidics for OOC systems. The company's goal is to create a fully bioprinted, implantable human kidney.

Vital3D has raised €2 million (US$2.34 million) to date and forged partnerships with pharma, biotech, clinical research organisations (CROs), medical device companies, research institutes, and hospitals, as well as material and bioprinting companies. The company is collaborating on the BUTTERFLIES Project, which aims to replace conventional petroleum-based plastics in the medical and bioengineering sector. Preliminary research with chitin and chitosan-based material looks promising.²¹

Advancements in Bioprinting Platforms for Medical Devices

EnvisionTEC, a Germany-based company, is a prominent European provider of bioprinting hardware, focusing on high-resolution printing for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The company produces affordable 3D printers utilizing technologies such as DLP, Scan, Spin, Selectively Photocure (3SP), and 3D-Bioplotter. The EnvisionTEC 3D-Bioplotter Series is used by universities, medical research centers, tissue engineering labs, and medical device manufacturers for applications such as bone regeneration, tissue engineering, organ printing, drug delivery, and advanced biomaterials research. Researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and McCormick School of Engineering successfully 3D-printed prosthetic ovaries and implanted them in a murine model. This innovation has contributed to the development of the US Food and Drug Administration-approved regenerative medical products, including CMFlex, a regenerative bone graft.²²

Future of 3D Printing

3D bioprinting is revolutionizing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine by allowing the development of intricate biological structures. Market research indicates that the worldwide 3D bioprinting market was valued at US$3.1 billion in 2025 and is expected to expand from US$3.5 billion in 2026 to reach US$6.7 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.7% from 2026 to 2033.²³Growth is expected to stem from improvements in biomaterials and printing methods, the demand for more precise drug testing models, and a rising need for regenerative medicines.

Although Europe’s bioprinting industry is still in its early phase, technological advancements in biomaterials and printing techniques are accelerating innovation in this field. CELLINK offers a broad array of platforms; Vital3D is known for micro-resolution; BIO INX leads with advanced bioinks; and Healshape focuses on implant-grade tissue bioprinting. Despite these advantages, obstacles such as vascularization, cell survival, scalability, and regulatory challenges remain significant barriers to clinical application. Looking ahead, combining artificial intelligence with innovative bioinks may enhance drug discovery and revolutionize personalized medicine, bringing new hope for organ transplants and complex tissue regeneration.²⁴

In March 2026, the European Medicines Agency published a landmark document: Questions & Answers on the Implementation of 3D Printing Technology (Additive Manufacturing Technology) for Solid Oral Dosage Forms. This guidance provides greater clarity for manufacturers of solid oral dosage forms on quality and good manufacturing practice requirements and should help to drive further innovation in pharmaceutical 3D printing in personalized oncology, pediatrics, rare diseases, and community pharmacy compounding.²⁵

References

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About the Author

Cheryl Barton, PhD, is founder and director of PharmaVision, Pharmavision.co.uk.