Researchers at EPFL have developed a swallowable device, the Magnetic Endoluminal Deposition System (MEDS), that uses bioprinting and magnetically guided capsules to repair internal tissue damage, such as ulcers and bleeding, without the need for surgery. The device, activated by a laser beam, deposits bio-ink precisely onto the injury site, offering a minimally invasive approach to healing and potentially serving as a platform for drug delivery.
Treating injuries inside the gastrointestinal tract remains one of medicine’s toughest challenges. Ulcers, bleeding, and other soft tissue damage are usually treated with surgery, which can be painful, risky, and may not guarantee permanent recovery.
While less invasive tools are being developed, most still depend on bulky equipment or anesthesia, limiting their use for internal organs.A research team at EPFL’s School of Engineering may have found a way around that. They have created a swallowable device that can bioprint living material directly onto damaged tissue inside the body.The new technology, called the Magnetic Endoluminal Deposition System , brings together bioprinting and magnetically guided capsules to enable internal wound repair without surgery.“By combining the principles of in-situ bioprinters with the drug release concepts of smart capsules, we can envision a new class of device: a pill-sized, swallowable bioprinter,” says lab head Vivek Subramanian.Tiny printer that works like a penThe MEDS device works much like a ballpoint pen, but on a much smaller scale. It holds a small chamber of bio-ink and uses a spring-plunger system to push the ink out when activated.The bio-ink is a living gel made from biocompatible polymers, designed to form a scaffold for new cells to grow.Unlike typical surgical bioprinters that require large machines or robotic arms near the patient, MEDS contains no electronics. It is activated from outside the body using a near-infrared laser beam, which can safely pass through human tissue to trigger the spring mechanism.Once activated, an external magnet mounted on a robotic arm steers the capsule with precision, guiding it like a joystick to the target area.This design allows doctors to deposit the bio-ink exactly where it is needed without making any incision. The concept blends the accuracy of modern bioprinting with the simplicity of ingestible medical devices.The EPFL team first tested the capsule on artificial stomach tissue, where it successfully repaired simulated ulcers of different sizes and sealed a mock hemorrhage.These results encouraged the researchers to move to in-vivo experiments at a certified animal research facility in the United States.In those tests, MEDS was able to deposit bio-ink in the gastric tracts of rabbits. The researchers tracked the capsule’s movement using x-ray fluoroscopy, confirming that it could be steered safely and retrieved through magnetic guidance.The study showed how such a system could deliver precise, minimally invasive repair inside living organisms.Beyond simply covering wounds, the printed bio-ink can also serve as a treatment platform. “In our controlled lab experiments, our cell-laden bio-ink retained its structural integrity for over 16 days, suggesting its potential as a ‘micro-bioreactor’ that can release growth factors and recruit new cells for wound healing,” says PhD student Sanjay Manoharan.New path in medicineIf future studies confirm its safety and effectiveness, MEDS could reshape how doctors treat internal injuries. Instead of invasive surgeries, patients might someday swallow a capsule that travels to the injury site and prints new tissue directly on it.The technology represents a major step toward a future where healing happens from the inside, with precision and minimal pain.The study is published in the journal Advanced Science.
Bioprinting Medical Technology Internal Injuries Minimally Invasive Drug Delivery
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