Being able to engineer tissue to heal the human body is quickly becoming a reality thanks to innovative interdisciplinary research.
Newcastle University’s Dr Ana Ferreira Duarte, Reader in Regenerative Engineering, and Professor Kenneth Dalgarno, Professor of Manufacturing Engineering, are undertaking ground-breaking work in bioprinting, regenerative medicine, and sustainable biomedical innovation. From treating chronic wounds to shaping the future of implant coatings, their research is helping to build a healthier, more personalised future in healthcare.
Contents
- What is Bioprinting?
- Where engineering meets biology
- Jetbio's goal of personalised medicine and better care
- Reducing the risk of implant failure
- Smarter, safer, more personalised care
What is Bioprinting?
Bioprinting is a form of 3D printing that uses biological materials, such as cells and proteins, to create tissue-like structures. What was once in the realm of science fiction has now evolved into a powerful tool for healthcare innovation.
‘Bioprinting started when engineers like us realised we could use the same 3D printing principles to build scaffolds for tissue regeneration. What’s surprising is how robust cells are. They can be printed and manipulated in ways that we never thought possible.’ – Professor Dalgarno
The goal is to create printed materials and components that mimic the body’s own systems, encouraging natural tissue repair and regeneration. Dr Duarte adds: ‘The human body is the perfect machine. We study how it heals and use materials-driven cellular biology to mimic natural processes, so we can guide cells to grow, repair, and thrive.’
Where engineering meets biology
Newcastle University is a hub for interdisciplinary biomedical engineering, with researchers developing new technologies for the diagnosis, treatment and management of medical conditions. Experts from across the faculties of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, Medical Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences come together in the specialist Centre for Biomedical Engineering.
Professor Dalgarno leads the Centre, while Dr Duarte’s research focuses on bio-inspired materials that address clinical needs, such as infection prevention and sustainable healthcare. Their work is at the interface of biology, engineering, and patient care.
Professor Dalgarno explains how this specialist field came about: ‘Tissue engineering was my first step into bioprinting. Then it was a happy interdisciplinary coincidence that engineers started asking questions about how to handle cells and proteins, and microbiologists said, “We’ve been trying to figure this out for years.” That’s when bioprinting really took off.’
Jetbio’s goal of personalised medicine and better care
Innovation at Newcastle doesn’t stop at the lab bench. The research team has launched Jetbio, a university spin-out built around their patented bioprinting technology using a technique called Reactive Jet Impingement.
‘Newcastle has a bioprinting technique that we've developed and patented’, says Professor Dalgarno. ‘Jetbio creates a vehicle to help us so that this technology gets into the hands of other researchers, clinicians, and the med-tech sector.’
Jetbio aims to deliver bioprinting platforms tailored for biomedical applications such as the development of new in vitro models, for use in drug development and personalised medicine. These models can simulate drug safety and patient-specific responses, enabling clinicians to choose the most effective treatments with fewer side effects and lower costs.
Members of the Jetbio team take part in the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Life Sciences Launch Reception, “Celebrating UK Life Sciences: From Innovation to Impact”. Credit: Kenneth Dalgarno
Earlier this year, the Jetbio team also had the privilege of being the first group to demonstrate bioprinting within the Palace of Westminster, showcasing the technology to members of the House of Parliament and House of Lords.
This translational focus is a core strength of our approach at Newcastle, which combines rigorous academic research with practical tools that solve industry problems.
Reducing the risk of implant failure
One of the team’s most promising breakthroughs is a hybrid coating that prevents infections in orthopaedic implants. These infections, while rare, can be life-threatening and require costly revision surgeries.
‘Our hybrid coating merges dip and spray techniques to create precise, localised material and biological functionalities using water-based materials, not toxic solvents’, explains Dr Duarte. ‘It addresses antimicrobial resistance, reduces clinical waste, and supports sustainability in healthcare.’
The coating prevents bacterial attachment and biofilm formation, which are key causes of implant failure. Importantly, it also reduces reliance on systemic antibiotics, which is a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance.
The technology is also being adapted for burn and chronic wound treatments, antimicrobial wound dressings, urinary catheters and other high-risk devices.
‘Getting input from patients and carers early in the process helps us make better decisions. It's not just a lab problem. We’re solving a human challenge.’ - Professor Dalgarno
Crucially, this work is guided by direct patient input towards ‘technologies that don’t just treat infections but monitor them’, says Dr Duarte. ‘This clinical need is driving us to go further toward smart, responsive implants that inform doctors in real time.’
Smarter, safer, more personalised care
Dr Ana Ferreira-Duarte
Both researchers are optimistic about the future of regenerative medicine. The field is expanding rapidly, with exciting advances in materials, sensors, and artificial intelligence.
Dr Duarte sees a future where treatment, monitoring, and prediction are combined:
‘We’ll be able to 3D print tailored therapeutics, monitor patient progress in real time, and use AI to predict outcomes. It’s personalised medicine, in every sense.’
Professor Dalgarno points to progress on one of the biggest hurdles in implantable tissue: the immune system. ‘There’s promising work in genetically engineering cells to reduce immune rejection. If that succeeds, we’ll be able to develop off-the-shelf tissue solutions that work for a wide range of patients.’
Already, bioprinting is having a clinical impact. ‘Drugs developed using bioprinted models are coming to market', says Professor Dalgarno. ‘It’s not far-future, it’s happening now.’
You might also like
- explore our Centre for Biomedical Engineering, where engineering, scientific, clinical, and policy expertise come together
- find out more about Professor Kenny Dalgarno, Professor of Manufacturing Engineering, and Dr Ana Ferreira Duarte, Reader in Regenerative Engineering
- listen to Professor Dalgarno and Dr Duarte on the From Newcastle Podcast: Engineering for a better world: regenerative medicine
- discover bioengineering research from our School of Engineering
- explore Jetbio and its groundbreaking reactive jet impingement bioprinting technology
- read about company creation at Newcastle in this blog: From campus to company: how and why we create new businesses
