World's First 3D-Printed Immune-Compatible Material Opens New Avenues for Organ Transplants and Drug Delivery
Release time:
2025-11-28
A University of Virginia research team has pioneered a novel 3D-printable material compatible with the human immune system, as reported in the latest issue of Advanced Materials.
Breaking Bottlenecks: Stretchable PEG Material Overcomes Traditional Limitations
Based on polyethylene glycol (PEG), this innovation addresses the brittleness and crystallization issues of conventional PEG by introducing a molecular structure that maintains integrity under stretching. This breakthrough benefits medical technologies like artificial organ transplantation and drug delivery, as well as advanced battery applications. Traditional PEG production involves cross-linking polymers followed by dehydration, leading to structural weakness. The new approach mimics elastic rubber’s molecular design with a "foldable bottlebrush" structure—where flexible side chains radiate from a central backbone, folding like an accordion to store extra length and unfold for high stretchability and durability, significantly enhancing PEG-based material performance.
Technological Innovation: Light-Controlled Polymerization Enables Complex 3D Printing
By applying the "foldable bottlebrush" concept to PEG, the team used UV light exposure to trigger polymerization within seconds, producing highly stretchable PEG-based hydrogels and solvent-free elastomers suitable for 3D printing. The key advancement lies in shaping UV light to precisely control polymerization, enabling the fabrication of intricate 3D structures essential for customized artificial organ scaffolds or drug delivery systems. Tests confirm excellent biocompatibility, with cell cultures showing tissue compatibility and suitability for direct implantation, significantly reducing immune rejection risks.
Application Expansion: Cross-Disciplinary Potential from Healthcare to Energy
Beyond medical uses, the material demonstrates versatility across fields. Compared to existing solid polymer electrolytes, it offers higher conductivity and stretchability at room temperature, positioning it as a candidate for high-performance solid electrolytes in advanced batteries. The team plans to explore its application in solid-state batteries and develop composite materials with diverse chemistries to expand 3D-printed product possibilities. This achievement not only paves the way for rapid, safe organ transplantation and drug delivery technologies but also holds promise for driving innovation in energy storage and other sectors.
Latest developments
According to the latest announcement from the International Society of Cryobiology, Professor Xu Yi from the School of Health Science and Engineering at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, and a member of the Yinfeng Cryomedicine Expert Committee, has been elected as a Board Governor of the Society for a three-year term (2026–2028). The election was conducted through a democratic vote by all members worldwide, with three new Board Governors elected. Professor Xu Yi is the only scholar from Asia elected to the Society’s Board of Governors this time and the third elected scholar from mainland China in the Society’s 60-year history.
The significance of life extension lies not only in technological breakthroughs but also in the shared belief of every individual who believes in "a better future." With faith as their torch, these fellow travelers join hands, pooling their strength to stride forward together. We firmly believe that as this steadfast support converges into a powerful force, it will propel the Yinfeng Life Extension Plan to gain broader attention, inject continuous momentum into the development of cryobiomedicine, and illuminate the next chapter of human civilization.
Over the two days, the symposium was not only a collision of ideas but also seeds sown to advance social progress in life culture. The Shandong Yinfeng Life Science Public Welfare Foundation will continue to use technology as wings and culture as roots, collaborating with all sectors of society to enhance the quality of life for the Chinese people and build a human-centered life care system.
According to recent announcements by the Jinan Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology, 11 outstanding achievements from Jinan have been included in the 2025 "Shandong Outstanding Achievements Report" project. Among them is the globally first-of-its-kind ovarian tissue dual-activation technology developed by Shandong Silver Med Life Science Research Institute (Jinan).
Recently, Frigid Zone Medicine, an authoritative international journal in the field of cryomedicine, published an important review titled "Advances in the Detection Methods for Assessing the Viability of Cryopreserved Samples". Written by the team of Yinfeng Cryomedical Research Center, the article systematically reviews and analyzes various detection techniques currently used to evaluate the viability of cryopreserved cells, tissues, and organs. It also proposes key directions from the perspectives of methodological integration and future instrument development, offering crucial theoretical support and practical guidance for the long - term cryopreservation of complex tissues and organs.
Yinfeng Life Continuation Plan
Address: Yinfeng Biotechnology Park, 1758 Gangyuan 6th Road, High-tech Zone, Jinan City, Shandong Province
Zip Code: 250102
Telephone: 0086-0531-88897351
Mobile: 0086-19953155507
Mobile website
Official WeChat Public Number
Links:Red Cross Society of China丨Shandong Red Cross Society丨Shandong Provincial Health Commission | Yinfeng Group| Yinfeng Biological Group
All rights reserved©Yinfeng Life Continuation Powered by www.300.cn SEO
