A pioneering international team, led by Wake Forest University in the United States, has harnessed a revolutionary bioink to 3D print functional human islets, heralding a new era of hope for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes. This groundbreaking achievement, showcased at the 2025 Congress of the European Society for Organ Transplantation, marks a significant advancement in the field of regenerative medicine. By utilizing customized bioink, the team successfully printed high-density, structurally robust islet tissue that demonstrated superior activity and insulin release capabilities in vitro, outperforming traditional methods.

The novel technology facilitates subcutaneous implantation, enhancing both safety and convenience. Notably, the 3D-printed islets exhibited a remarkable survival rate exceeding 90% and demonstrated exceptional physiological responsiveness, underscoring their potential as a promising therapeutic option for patients with Type 1 diabetes.