Latvian biomedical startup PrintyMed which specializes in producing 3D-printed artificial organs from biocompatible spider silk has secured €800,000 in grant funding. The capital came from the Competence Center for Smart Materials and Technologies.
- PrintyMed was founded in 2023 by Sandra Treide, Jekaterina Romanova, and Kristaps Jaudzems. The startup is developing a solution aimed at addressing the organ transplant shortage and reducing the high rejection rates seen with traditional transplants.
- At the core of its technology is artificial spider silk, produced through a biomimetic process developed at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis. In this process, bacteria generate proteins that replicate natural spider silk, ensuring compatibility with the human body and making it ideal for medical uses like implants and valves.
- Currently, the company produces up to 10 grams of this silk at a time, but the team is optimistic about scaling up production to meet future demands.
- PrintyMed is now focused on developing a prototype heart valve, which has reportedly been successfully tested with rat blood, ensuring quicker production and easier installation.
- The grant will support the development of a heart valve prosthesis made from artificial spider silk, focusing on manufacturing methods and assessing the silk's biomedical properties, with a total budget of €447,200.
- To speed up market entry, PrintyMed is partnering with local startup Cellbox Labs, which specializes in organ-on-chip technology. A second part of the grant of €362,700 will be used to develop a cell-binding membrane for these organ-on-chip applications.
