On the 14th, Professor Jang Jin-a and researchers from the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) Mechanical Engineering, Biotechnology, IT Convergence Engineering, and Graduate School of Convergence developed a platform called 'HICA-V' that reproduces an environment similar to that of a real pancreas using 3D bioprinting technology. This study was published in the international academic journal 'Nature Communications' on Feb. 7.
Diabetes occurs when there is a problem with the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels. The pancreas contains islet cells that secrete insulin; when these cells are damaged, it becomes difficult to regulate blood sugar, increasing the risk of diabetes. Scientists are conducting research to create islet cells using stem cells, but there have been limitations in making artificially created islet cells function normally like those in a real pancreas.
In response, the researchers developed a customized platform that allows islet cells to grow in an environment similar to that of a real pancreas. The team created a bio-ink from proteins such as laminin and collagen IV derived from actual pancreatic tissue and produced the platform HICA-V using 3D bioprinting technology. Bio-ink is a special ink that contains cells and biomaterials and is used to form human tissue with a 3D bioprinter.
This platform precisely arranged islet cells and blood vessels made from stem cells, nearly perfectly replicating the structure of a real pancreas. The researchers confirmed through experiments that the islet cells cultured in HICA-V produced more insulin and showed functions similar to those of real islet cells by increasing proteins that help them better connect with surrounding cells.
Moreover, the researchers experimented with how this platform reacts in an environment similar to diabetes, effectively reproducing pathological responses in vivo, such as an increase in the expression of inflammation-related genes. This indicates that the platform could serve as an important tool for the development of diabetes treatments and disease research.
Professor Jang Jin-a, who led the research, noted, "The customized islet cell platform developed in this study will contribute to the maturation and functional enhancement of artificial islet cells by replicating the structure and function of a real pancreas." She added, "This platform is expected to play a crucial role not only in diabetes research and drug development but also in improving the efficiency of islet cell transplantation therapy."
References
Nature Communications (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56665-5