Location: Armenia
Foldink is working towards making 3D bioprinting technology more affordable and accessible.
In the USA, 20 people die each day while waiting for an organ transplant. There are currently more than 112,000 people on the national transplant waiting list, yet less than 40,000 operations were performed in 2019. There has been little progress over the past couple of decades. Ensuring more people get the organs they need is going to require advancements in biotechnology.
Enter Foldink.
An Armenian startup founded by a team of doctors in 2017. According to Foldink’s CEO, 3D bioprinters can cost up to $200,000, which significantly limits the number of researchers who can use the technology in their work. Their goal is to advance bioprinting technology while making it more affordable, and therefore more readily available.
Besides working towards reaching the application of 3D printing for clinical applications, they also offer three products for sale. The Foldink 3D printer creates structures with precision. Their Bioink is a customisable, bio-3D printing material. Here, living cells are combined with collagen, gelatin, or alginate. Their printhead, the X-Trudr4, is designed to be used with their 3D printer. However, it can be adapted to work with other printers.
Website: https://foldink.am/
Email: foldinkofficial@gmail.com
Image: Foldink
