Tiny Bioprinter Could Transform Internal Medicine
Scientists at Switzerland’s Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) have unveiled a swallowable bioprinter capable of repairing tissue inside the body without surgery.
The device, known as the Magnetic Endoluminal Deposition System (MEDS), is a capsule-sized printer that uses a magnetic field and a near-infrared laser to deposit “living ink” directly onto internal wounds.
Once swallowed, MEDS travels through the digestive tract, guided externally by magnets. At the target site, a laser activates a spring mechanism that releases bio-ink. The biocompatible gel forms scaffolds for new tissue growth. The capsule can then be steered in reverse and retrieved orally using the same magnetic control.
In early tests, the small device successfully sealed simulated ulcers and haemorrhages in artificial stomach tissue, which scientists aim to replicate when they move to animal trials. EPFL researchers guided the capsule to deposit bio-ink precisely onto the stomach lining. The printed material maintained its structure for over two weeks under laboratory conditions, acting as a “micro-bioreactor” to promote healing.
Unlike traditional medical implants, MEDS contains no internal electronics, reducing risks and long-term complications. Its external control system enables accurate positioning and printing inside soft, moving tissue.
The technology could eventually replace invasive procedures for ulcers, internal bleeding and other gastrointestinal injuries.
Researchers also plan to adapt it to repair blood vessels and abdominal tissue. If proven safe in humans, MEDS could redefine current “minimally invasive” medicine, making internal repair as simple as swallowing a pill.
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