TN&RFAB, a regenerative medicine company specializing in 3D bioprinting technology, announced on the 27th that it has obtained three Chinese patents for innovative regenerative medicine technologies related to 'bio ink, artificial blood vessels, and liver organoids.'
The three patented technologies are ▲bio ink supply system and a three-dimensional bioprinting method using the same ▲3D printing system for manufacturing artificial blood vessels and a method for manufacturing artificial blood vessels using the system ▲liver organoids and a method for manufacturing them.
First, the patent related to 'bio ink' concerns printing technology using bio ink, including technology for printing biological tissues or organoids in three dimensions. Second, the patent related to 'artificial blood vessels' pertains to manufacturing artificial blood vessels using 3D bioprinting. It overcomes the limitations of existing technologies by producing three-dimensional porous structures compartmentally to achieve physical properties similar to actual human organs. Third, the patent related to 'liver organoids' provides a method for continuously manufacturing liver organoids, which are artificial organs, in three dimensions, thereby expanding their range of applications.
The company emphasized, "The acquisition of these three Chinese patents is highly significant as it demonstrates that we have secured a unique technological advantage and position in the field of regenerative medicine using 3D bioprinting technology-based artificial organs and organoids, spanning from hardware to individual processes and application areas."
Building on this technological advantage, TN&RFAB recently succeeded in producing the world's first 3D bioprinted artificial airway tissue in collaboration with domestic researchers and successfully transplanted it into a patient. After six months of postoperative observation, the transplanted artificial tissue was confirmed to have stably integrated with the host tissue. This groundbreaking case attracted significant global media attention and was reported by Chinese media and the UK’s BBC Science magazine, among others, drawing worldwide focus.
A company representative stated, "Through the acquisition of these Chinese patents, TN&RFAB has confirmed its unrivaled superiority in bioprinting technology accumulated over a long period and secured a technological foundation to provide customized medical solutions using artificial organ printing and organoid technology in the Chinese market."
Meanwhile, TN&RFAB has previously completed patent registrations for these technologies in Korea and Japan. It has also filed patents in the United States and Europe, where registration examinations are currently underway.
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