From April 17th to 21st, 2024, Prof. Xiong Zhuo’s Group from Tsinghua University showcased their groundbreaking innovations at the 49th Geneva International Invention Exhibition. The projects, including ‘Engineering Complex Organs with Biomimetic Vessel-neural Networks bythe Sequential Printing in Reversible Ink Template (SPIRIT) Strategy’ and ‘On-orbit 3D Bioprinting Technique and Automated Device for Tumor Modeling in Space’, earning the Silver and Bronze Awards respectively.
The project ‘Engineering Complex Organs with Biomimetic Vessel-neural Networks bythe Sequential Printing in Reversible Ink Template (SPIRIT) Strategy’ invents a generalizable bioprinting technique that precisely replicates the geometries of both the complex organs and their internal vessel-neural networks, which significantly increases structural complexity and printing speed compared with extant extrusion printing techniques, and has been used to engineer vascularized ventricular models for regenerative medicine applications.
The project ‘On-orbit 3D Bioprinting Technique and Automated Device for Tumor Modeling in Space’ develops an on-orbit 3D bioprinting technique as well as an automated miniaturized device suitable for complex space environments, addressing the problems of on-orbit printing and in-situ culture of viable tissue models. The deep learning algorithm increases the imaging speed by two orders of magnitude. We have realized the on-orbit 3D printing of tumor models for the first time globally, providing an innovative approach to space medical research.
Both projects received high praise and recognition from the jury at the exhibition, attracting widespread attention from visitors. They also received cooperation intentions from several clients from Europe, Asia, and Africa, establishing the team's brand image in the field of biomanufacturing both domestically and internationally.
The Geneva International Invention Exhibition, founded in 1973, is jointly hosted by the Swiss Federal Government, the Geneva State Government, the Geneva City Government, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It is one of the oldest and most influential international invention exhibitions in the world. Due to its fair judging, large scale, and highest authority and reputation in the international exhibition industry, its awards are widely recognized by governments worldwide. Every year, over a thousand invention projects from more than 40 countries and regions participate in the exhibition.