Australian biotechnology company Inventia Life Science has begun world-first clinical trials of a revolutionary 3D bioprinting device that treats wounds using the patient's own cells, eliminating the need for traditional skin grafts or stitches.
The device, named LIGŌ (from the Latin word "ligo" meaning "to bind"), is currently being tested at Concord Repatriation General Hospital in Sydney for treating burn injuries and other skin wounds. This groundbreaking approach combines living cells with biomaterials to create a gel-like "bioink" that is precisely delivered to wound sites.
How LIGŌ's Bioprinting Technology Works
LIGŌ functions similarly to an inkjet printer but instead delivers nano-sized droplets of bioink directly into wounds. The bioink contains the patient's own cells combined with biomaterials that create a scaffold supporting the regrowth of new skin layers that mimic naturally occurring tissue.
"The LIGŌ machine delivers the patient's own cells directly to the wound site via the bio-ink," explains Dr. Julio Ribeiro, founder of Inventia Life Science. "Though treating burns would normally require harvesting the patient's cells for a skin graft, there is no need for this with our approach."
The device's precision allows clinicians to tailor treatments based on wound complexity. "Depending on the depth of the injury in a skin wound, different cell types and biomaterials can be printed to guide tissue regeneration of each unique skin layer," Ribeiro notes.
A high-resolution vision system enables clinicians to accurately plan where and what to bioprint, making the procedure more precise and efficient.
Clinical and Economic Benefits
The LIGŌ technology aims to transform wound treatment by improving patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. Traditional approaches to soft tissue reconstruction typically require large graft sites, complex surgical procedures, and lengthy recovery times.
"Current approaches to soft tissue reconstruction require large graft sites, complex surgical procedures or lengthy recovery times, which all impact the patient experience," says Ribeiro. "LIGŌ's ability to deliver biomaterials with unprecedented precision has the potential to mean better healing and ultimately better quality of life for patients."
The technology is expected to help patients heal faster, reduce complications, and make regenerative treatments more accessible. Additionally, shorter hospital stays associated with LIGŌ treatments may significantly lower healthcare costs.
Future Applications and Development
While the current clinical trial focuses on burn injuries, Inventia Life Science envisions broader applications for the technology. Future trials may explore treating acute wounds from skin cancer excisions and chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers.
"It would also be possible to use LIGŌ to rapidly and precisely deliver other substances such as antimicrobial agents and drugs as well as growth factors to minimise infection risk and enhance healing," Ribeiro points out. "Future applications could also extend into a range of regenerative medicine fields, to muscle, cartilage, or cornea repair."
Development Journey and Funding
The development of LIGŌ has been supported by two Medical Devices Fund grants from the Office for Health and Medical Research. The first grant in 2021 enabled the device's development and refinement for clinical trials, while a second grant awarded in 2024 will support commercial product development and regulatory approvals in Australia and the United States.
The technology represents over a decade of work by Ribeiro and his team. "Back in 2011, I had a 'blue sky' dream to be the first in the world to turn regenerative skin technology from a science fiction concept into reality," reflects Ribeiro. "Over six very lean years I scraped by while I personally funded the development of that vision, which evolved into the LIGŌ medical device."
A small team of seven engineers and scientists at Inventia's Sydney headquarters in Alexandria designed, manufactured, and refined the LIGŌ device. "Today, I'm proud to say that we have achieved that original vision, doing all of the work in Australia and paving the way for more groundbreaking clinical applications," Ribeiro concludes.
