Researchers at the University of Sydney have developed a new 3D printing technique to manufacture anatomically accurate replicas of human blood vessels in just two hours, a development the university says could advance the study of strokes and the testing of new treatments.
The “artery on a chip” models recreate both healthy and diseased sections of blood vessels, including delicate anatomy and damaged areas commonly seen in stroke patients, as revealed in a news release.
According to the University of Sydney, the technology, published in Advanced Materials, uses CT scans of patients as blueprints and reduces manufacturing time from 10 hours to two.
“From a distance, the blood vessels look like delicate engravings on glass,” said PhD candidate Charles Zhao from the University of Sydney’s School of Biomedical Engineering.
“We’re not just printing blood vessels – we’re printing hope for millions at risk of stroke worldwide. With continued support and collaboration, we aim to make personalised vascular medicine accessible to every patient who needs it.”
The University of Sydney reports that the models allow scientists to observe blood clot formation and platelet behaviour in real time under a microscope.
Researchers noted that the friction and force of blood flow against vessel walls significantly affects platelet movement, which plays a key role in clotting and stroke risk.
“This is the first-of-its-kind bioengineering endeavour in Australia, and our work is aiming to solve two crucial gaps in heart disease diagnosis and prevention, without animal testing,” said Dr Zihao Wang, postdoctoral chief engineer of the university’s Mechanobiology and Biomechanics Laboratory (MBL).
The university said the research also addresses the challenge of replicating blood flow dynamics, which are critical in understanding cardiovascular disease. “No two patients are biologically identical, and everyone has differences in their blood vessel structure and blood, influencing their risk of blood clot disease and their treatment options,” Dr Wang said.
Senior author Professor Arnold Ju from the University of Sydney described the models as “physical twins” of patient blood vessels.
He highlighted ongoing efforts at the university to integrate artificial intelligence with the 3D printing platform, aiming to predict stroke events before they occur.
Helen Zhao, postdoctoral digital scientist and operations manager of the MBL Ju Lab, added, “Imagine a future where we can take a patient’s CT scan, rapidly print their blood vessel model, test their blood response, and use AI to predict their stroke risk years in advance.”
Professor Ju said the project reflects collaborative work across the University of Sydney’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Charles Perkins Centre, and the Heart Research Institute, supported by the Snow Medical Research Foundation and the National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship.
“Our lab members have shown remarkable innovation in developing this technology, and working with our clinical partners ensures our research directly addresses real patient needs,” Professor Ju said.
“This exemplifies how engineering innovation, including manufacturing at the micro-scale, can transform healthcare delivery.”
