UOW bioprinting to be utilised at Indian manufacturing zone

The University of Wollongong’s (UOW) 3D bioprinting techniques have been picked up by an integrated medical devices manufacturing zone in India.

Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone (AMTZ) will be the first zone which includes scientific, manufacturing, and commercial facilities which will support medical device manufacturers and innovators. The zone is located in Visakhapatnam in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

As part of the collaboration, UOW’s development of a scan and printing package to produce 3D printed ears will be deployed in India and Australia.

The ability to 3D print ears was developed by Distinguished Professor Gordon Wallace (AO), who utilised nanotechnology alongside organic conductors to create the medical bionics.

With the collaboration now up and running, UOW and AMTZ hope to explore where other areas for collaboration in research, teaching, and manufacturing can be found, said UOW vice-chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings.

“As a research-intensive university with internationally renowned expertise in this field, UOW is very proud to be part of this exciting new precinct that will put India on the global map of high end medical equipment production and make health care products more affordable and accessible in India but across the world,” he said.

The development of 3D bioprinting at UOW is placed within the university’s Translational Research Initiative for Cellular Engineering and Printing (TRICEP). The centre works to manufacture printers, biomaterials, and biolinks.