Researchers at the New York Institute of Technology and the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) have developed what’s described as a highly realistic artificial human colon, a scientific advancement that may improve preclinical testing for cancer treatments and expand research capabilities in gastrointestinal diseases.
A new study in “Advanced Science” details the development of what may be the first functional, drug-testable, 3D-printed human colon model. Designed to provide an alternative to animal testing, the model closely replicates the structural and biological complexity of human colon tissue. Conceived by Steven Zanganeh, a bioengineer at New York Institute of Technology, with a campus in Old Westbury, the project aims to advance colorectal cancer research and support the development of precision therapies, while also laying the groundwork for realistic models of other human organs.
“This is, to our knowledge, the first model of its kind and represents a true leap forward in biomedical innovation,” Zanganeh, who aims to commercialize the prototype, said in a news release about the model.
“While this project successfully replicated a human colon, it also opens doors to create functional tissue for virtually any human organ,” Zanganeh said.
“This breakthrough points to a future in which therapeutic testing can be performed without dependence on traditional cell cultures or animal models, streamlining the path to clinical trials,” he added. “What once sounded like science fiction is now reality.”
Using human CT scan data, the team created a detailed anatomical map of the colon and employed bioprinting with hydrogels to fabricate a model that mimics key structural layers and functions. Printed at a UC Irvine facility, the model also supported the introduction and treatment of a tumor, offering a new platform for cancer drug discovery and disease research.
“Our 3-D, human-relevant colon model overcomes key limitations of 2-D cell cultures and animal studies,” Rahim Esfandyar-Pour, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science at UC Irvine, said in the news release. “It lets us study disease and drug responses in a way that is far closer to the patient, opening a faster, more reliable path to new therapies.”
Zanganeh and his team – including doctoral, graduate and medical students from New York Tech – plan to develop additional 3D tissue models. These prototypes aim to withstand electrical stimulation – recreating conditions that transport substances and molecules across cell membranes – and those replicating immune function.
“By combining cutting-edge bioprinting with interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Zanganeh and his colleagues have opened a new frontier in cancer research,” Babak Beheshti, dean of New York Tech’s College of Engineering and Computing Sciences, said in the news release.
“We are proud to see our faculty leading discoveries with the potential to transform medicine and improve lives worldwide,” Beheshti said.