From printed tissue to living data
Human tissue models are becoming more complex, more realistic and more informative. Advances in bioprinting and embedded sensing are enabling real-time biological data, opening new possibilities for early-stage drug development and reducing reliance on animal testing.
John Zandbergen works at the intersection of biofabrication, sensing technology and regenerative medicine. At Ourobionics, he focuses on building human tissues that are not only structurally complex, but also capable of generating real-time biological data through embedded sensors. In this conversation, he explains how printing living skin with integrated sensing could transform toxicity testing, compound development and translational research.
You recently installed a new bioprinter at the SBMC Development Lab as part of the Unique Skin project. What is the scope of this project?
“Our company develops human tissues with embedded biosensors. One of the core technologies we use is what we call bioelectric field technology. Instead of pushing cells through a very thin nozzle, we use a much larger nozzle and apply an electric field to gently pull the cells out.
This allows us to create something like a large ball pit made up of many tiny hydrogel spheres. Each of those spheres contains cells and growth factors, embedded in a three-dimensional matrix that can ultimately form tissue. One of the first tissues we focus on is skin.”
Can you explain that “ball pit” concept a bit further?
“Each of those balls is a hydrogel capsule containing cells and specific growth factors. You can imagine a gigantic ball pit where every ball has its own biological role.
Over time, the cells grow, consume the growth factors and start forming a coherent tissue. This approach allows us to merge different cell types and different biomaterials into one complex three-dimensional structure.
The underlying technology itself is not new. It was originally developed in 2006 by a professor at University College London. We licensed that technology, turned it into a robust system and developed it further into the bioprinting platform that is now installed at the lab.”
What makes your skin model different from existing models on the market?
“Most commercially available skin models consist of two layers: dermis and epidermis. But if you look at real human skin, you see much more. You see hair follicles, sweat glands and vascularisation, those tiny red blood vessels.
We are building that additional complexity. The goal is to create skin tissue that more closely resembles what actually exists in the human body.”
What is the main purpose of creating such complex skin tissue?
“Ultimately, it is about compound testing. Safety testing, toxicity testing and drug development. What you really need from these tissues is data.
Traditionally, you only look at cells afterwards and check whether they survived. What we want instead is to measure what happens in real time when compounds are applied to the tissue.
That is why we embed sensors. Sensors that can measure parameters such as pH, temperature or LDH levels. With that real-time data, we can build much better predictive models.”
How far away are you from producing this integrated system?
“The biological component is about halfway there. The sensor technology itself is already developed. The next phase is merging the two.
We still need to determine whether the sensors should be placed on top of the tissue, underneath it or embedded within the tissue itself. That is something we are actively investigating at the moment.”
What is the biggest challenge you are facing in this project?
“Time and timing. Cells grow at different speeds and respond to different growth factors. Some cell types work well together, others do not.
Encapsulation allows us to separate them initially, but once they become part of a single tissue, they all need to remain alive and functional. That involves timing, biomaterials and mechanical properties.
Even something as simple as adding a new hydrogel sphere requires making sure it ends up in exactly the right layer. There are many parameters to manage, but that complexity is also what makes the work exciting.”
Why is this important? What kind of impact are you aiming for?
“Animal testing is the obvious issue. We all agree that we need better alternatives. The translational value of animal models is limited.
What we need are better models at the very start of drug development. We already saw a major improvement when the field moved from 2D to 3D cell cultures. Making tissues even more realistic further increases translational value.
Animal testing will not disappear overnight, but if we can reduce failure rates when moving from animal studies to clinical trials, that would be a significant step forward.
Can you tell us a bit more about Ourobionics as a company? Where does the name come from?
“I met my co-founder in 2020 while consulting for a company that built 3D printers. They had developed a bioprinter, but the technology would not solve the real challenges in the field.
Together with my co-founder, Stephen Gray, we decided to take a different approach. The name Ourobionics comes from Ouroboros, the snake that bites its own tail, combined with bionics. It reflects regenerative medicine combined with embedded sensing.”
Skin is your starting point. What comes next?
“Skin already offers multiple relevant models, including melanoma and atopic dermatitis. But the underlying technology can be applied to many other tissues.
Based on earlier research, we see opportunities for heart, lung and brain tissue. We also collaborate with partners working on functional hair follicles, with applications ranging from burn treatment to dermatology.
You are also involved in the NXTGEN Hightech programme and the One Stop Shop initiative. What is your role there?
“The One Stop Shop is a collaborative project within the NXTGEN Hightech Biomed domain. It brings together companies and experts in regulation, standardisation, production and infrastructure.
I lead one of the work packages. The idea is to help projects move through different development phases by providing the right expertise at the right time.”
Looking ahead, when would you consider this journey a success?
“If it becomes sustainable. If we can demonstrate that we help projects move towards product–market readiness, then we have proven our value.
For our own technology, the current expectation is to finalise validation in 2026 and to have a commercial-scale skin model available in 2027.”
About this series
This interview is the final edition of a three-part series exploring where medtech and biomaterials converge. Recorded during a Medtech Special of the Great Small Talk Show, the conversations bring together different perspectives on how living cells, materials and medical technology are reshaping healthcare. Together, the series highlights not only technological advances, but also the practical challenges of translating them into scalable, reproducible and affordable therapies.
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