Core Viewpoint - A Canadian research team has developed the world's smallest 3D bioprinter, inspired by the flexible trunk of an elephant, to precisely deliver therapeutic hydrogels during vocal cord surgeries, addressing challenges in post-operative healing and voice restoration [1] Group 1: Technology Development - The 3D bioprinter features a print head that is only 2.7 millimeters wide, mounted on a slender flexible robotic arm [1] - The robotic arm mimics the movement of an elephant's trunk, allowing for manual control via a surgical endoscope to accurately deposit hydrogels onto artificial vocal cords used for surgical training [1] Group 2: Clinical Application - The injection of hydrogels that simulate the natural structure of vocal cords has been shown to effectively promote healing and support new tissue growth after surgeries for vocal cord cysts or hyperplasia [1] - The research team aims to program the bioprinter for autonomous operation, enabling it to follow pre-set printing paths based on images of the surgical site in the future [1] Group 3: Future Prospects - Researchers believe that with further improvements and testing, this bioprinter could have various applications beyond vocal cord repair surgeries [1]

Core Viewpoint - The OTC2025 forum focuses on the advanced applications of organoids and 3D cell culture, discussing topics such as disease modeling, drug screening, AI-driven organ-on-chip technologies, and quality control in organoid cultivation [1][4]. Group 1: Forum Overview - The forum will take place on July 24-25 in Shanghai, featuring over 50 speakers and more than 800 attendees [1]. - Organized by Shanghai Aoshun Pharmaceutical, Shanghai Bai'ao Tai Pharmaceutical Technology, and Yao Jingtong Bio, with support from various academic and medical institutions [1]. Group 2: Agenda Highlights - The main sessions include discussions on tumor organoid drug sensitivity testing, bone organoids, and AI applications in drug screening [4][5]. - Specific topics include retinal organoid technology, high-throughput analysis of tumor organoids, and the application of organoids in disease modeling and drug screening [5][6][7]. Group 3: Key Participants - Notable speakers include experts from prestigious institutions such as Peking University, Macau University, and various research institutes [5][6][7]. - The forum will also feature discussions on the integration of AI in analyzing large-scale organoid data for personalized drug screening [52]. Group 4: Industry Trends - The forum emphasizes the importance of developing automated cultivation systems to enhance organoid production efficiency and reduce costs [54]. - There is a focus on combining 3D bioprinting and microfluidic technologies to improve the complexity and functionality of organoids [54].

Core Insights - A breakthrough in medical 3D printing has been achieved by a research team from the California Institute of Technology, developing a technology that allows for the in-situ creation of medical implants and customized therapeutic tissues without traditional invasive surgery [1][2] - The new technique, named "Imaging-Guided In-Situ Ultrasound Printing" (DISP), combines focused ultrasound with specially designed "ultrasound ink" to precisely manufacture biomaterials deep within the body, potentially transforming personalized medicine [1][2] Group 1 - The DISP technology utilizes focused ultrasound to trigger a gelation reaction of biological ink, enabling in-situ printing at targeted locations within the body [1] - The "ultrasound ink" consists of biopolymers, imaging contrast agents, and temperature-sensitive liposomes, which can be delivered to deep tissues via injection or catheter [1][2] - An automated ultrasound transducer operates according to a pre-set digital model, generating localized micro-heating to release cross-linking agents, leading to rapid gelation of the ink [1][2] Group 2 - The biological ink used in this technology is highly tunable, allowing for the design of properties such as enhanced conductivity, drug release, tissue adhesion, and even real-time imaging capabilities [2] - Successful experiments demonstrated the printing of drug-loaded functional biomaterials near bladder tumors in mice and in deep muscle tissues of rabbits, showcasing DISP's potential in drug delivery, tissue repair, and bioelectronic device construction [2] - Safety assessments indicated that the technology did not cause significant inflammation or tissue damage, and the gel ink is not naturally cleared by the body within a week, indicating good biocompatibility [2] Group 3 - The biomedical field is a significant application area for 3D printing technology, traditionally involving external printing of patient-matched scaffolds before surgical implantation [2] - The DISP technology addresses the limitations of traditional methods by enabling direct in-body printing of biomaterials, potentially alleviating patient discomfort associated with surgeries [2] - Future advancements, including the integration of artificial intelligence for real-time path planning, may revolutionize the traditional model of constructing and implanting 3D printed biomaterials, further advancing personalized medicine [2]