ReJI Bioprinting Technology Accelerates Drug Development to Help Fight Cancer and Arthritis

Bioprinting has been used for medical purposes since around 2000. But, it has its limitations, particularly when it comes to drug development, where costs remain high. However now, thanks to financial support from Versus Arthritis, researchers at Newcastle University have developed a new method of 3D bioprinting gels containing cells, named ReJI, which could pave the way for advances in the development of treatments for cancer, heart disease and arthritis.

This process, which has capable of faithfully reproducing human tissue, has been patented in the USA and Europe. In addition, under the leadership of Professor Kenny Dalgarno, the team founded the startup Jetbio to attract investment for the worldwide deployment of the ReJI printer in laboratories.

Left: 3D printing technology and right: the ReJI printer

But how exactly does the printing process work? Called Reactive Jet Impingement, the technology based on a bioprinting process in which two liquids are sprayed against each other. One contains a cross-linking solution with suspended cells, while the other is a polymer solution. Mixing the two in air forms a cell-enriched hydrogel, which can then be 3D printed on almost any surface. This process is far faster than conventional technologies, and achieves ten times the cell density. What’s more, the resulting tissues resemble human tissue samples.