Pandorum: 3D Printing the Future of Medicine
- vkb3670
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
In a world where thousands die each year waiting for organ transplants, a small Indian biotech company is rewriting the script—one printed cell at a time. Pandorum Technologies, founded in 2011 in Bengaluru, is India’s leading tissue engineering and regenerative medicine startup. The company has gained global attention for pioneering 3D bioprinting—a revolutionary process that builds human tissue layer by layer, potentially eliminating the need for organ donors in the future.
Pandorum was founded by Dr. Tuhin Bhowmick and Dr. Arun Chandru, both alumni of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. What began as a research-driven idea soon turned into a futuristic business model with high-impact goals. Their dream: to develop human tissues and eventually entire organs for transplantation, medical research, and drug testing—entirely in labs, and at a cost affordable for India.
How It Works: Science Meets Innovation
Pandorum's core focus revolves around 3D bioprinting.. Using special bio-inks made from living cells, their printers create mini human tissues such as liver tissues and corneal models. These lab-grown structures mimic the function of real organs and can be used to test drugs, study diseases, and eventually, replace damaged organs.
Their most groundbreaking development to date is a 3D-printed human cornea, created in collaboration with the LV Prasad Eye Institute.
Their liver tissue platform is already being used for toxicology screening by pharma companies.
They’re also working on lung tissue models—a critical development post-COVID.
Why It Matters: The Indian Healthcare Angle
India faces a major shortage of organ donors, with fewer than 0.5 donors per million people, compared to over 30 per million in countries like Spain. This results in thousands of people dying each year while waiting for organ transplants. Pandorum’s technology offers a future solution made to meet India’s needs—affordable, scalable, and locally developed. It not only helps in organ research but also reduces the country’s reliance on imported biotech.
Global Recognition, Indian Roots
Pandorum is one of the only Indian companies selected by Global Grand Challenges (USA) for its innovative healthcare solutions.
It has raised over ₹80 crore in funding from investors like 021 Capital and Binny Bansal (Flipkart co-founder).
The startup has filed multiple international patents for its bio-ink technology and tissue engineering platforms.
Delhi Angle: Collaboration, Reach, and Relevance
Though based in Bengaluru, Pandorum’s innovations are directly influencing Delhi’s medical ecosystem:
AIIMS Delhi and Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital have shown interest in using such tissue models for research.
The startup is partnering with Delhi-based pharma companies for drug testing on 3D printed liver tissues.
As Delhi becomes a growing hub for bio-research, Pandorum’s work offers new tools for ethical and efficient medical trials without using animal testing.
Stats That Speak
12+ patented technologies in bioprinting and tissue engineering.
Over 100+ tissue models produced for pharma research.
Estimated cost of bio-printed cornea: ₹5,000–₹7,000 (much cheaper than imported alternatives).
India’s first company to 3D print corneal tissue.
Challenges and Road Ahead
Despite their progress, Pandorum still faces hurdles: scaling up production, getting full regulatory clearance for human implantation, and convincing hospitals to adopt bioprinted solutions. However, with AI, automation, and personalized medicine trends rising, the company is well-positioned to lead India's biotech transformation in the next decade.
Their next goal? To build a mini human liver that can fully mimic organ function for transplantation—a development that would mark a global first for India.
Conclusion: The Future Is Being Printed
Pandorum Technologies isn’t just a biotech startup—it’s a symbol of how far Indian science has come. With global-level innovation rooted in Indian needs, this startup is pushing boundaries in a space where very few dare to tread. As organ science evolves, Pandorum’s labs may very well hold the blueprint for saving millions of lives—not just in India, but around the world.
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