---
title: "Synthetic Organs: We’re One Step Closer to Having Bioartificial Kidneys"
description: "Researchers have succeeded in creating a \"living membrane\" that can transport molecules from one side to the other, a key requirement for a functional bioartificial kidney. Their work could make dialysis or transplantation unnecessary for the millions of patients suffering from renal failure across the world."
date: "2016-11-19"
modified: "2016-11-28"
authors:
  - name: "Dom Galeon"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/domgaleon"
url: "https://futurism.com/synthetic-organs-were-one-step-closer-to-having-bioartificial-kidneys"
categories:
  - "Biology"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "bioartificial kidney"
  - "organoids"
  - "synthetic biology"
  - "synthetic organs"
---

# Synthetic Organs: We’re One Step Closer to Having Bioartificial Kidneys

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/bioartificialkidneys.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Getty Images\</em\>*

## Changing treatment

A new study being presented at the [American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2016](<https://www.asn-online.org/kidneyweek/>) at McCormick Place in Chicago is poised to revolutionize kidney failure treatment. Dutch researchers Dimitrios Stamatialis of the [University of Twente](<https://www.utwente.nl/en/>), Roos Masereeuw from the [University of Utrecht](<http://www.uu.nl/en>), and their teams have successfully engineered a key requirement for a functional bioartificial kidney.

Using conditionally immortalized human renal [proximal tubular epithelial cells (ciPTECs)](<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21252510>) on polyethersulfone-based hollow fiber membranes, the researchers managed to form a "living membrane" consisting of a tight kidney cell layer on artificial membrane surfaces. They were able to demonstrate that the cell monolayer is indeed a functional one, as it can transport molecules from one side to the other.

"\[This is\] an important step towards the development of a bioartificial kidney device," according to Stamatialis. "The strategies and methods of this work could be relevant to the development of other bioartificial organs, such as a bioartificial liver or bioartificial pancreas, and organs on chips — such as a kidney on chip, a lung on chip, or a liver on chip."

![Credits: ISEA/John McGhee](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Figure1_kidney_stenosis.jpg>)
*Credits: ISEA/John McGhee*

## Synthetic organs

A functional bioartificial kidney could make dialysis or transplantation unnecessary for the millions of patients suffering from renal failure (about [26 million](<https://www.kidney.org/news/newsroom/factsheets/FastFacts>) in the United States alone). Although synthetic, its components are still largely based on biological materials, as described above. This is what's wonderful about [developing synthetic organs](<https://futurism.com/researchers-just-solved-one-of-the-biggest-problems-in-synthetic-biology>) for treatment purposes — they can work seamlessly with organic systems already in place.

Thanks to developments in [synthetic biology](<https://futurism.com/synthetic-biology-its-alive-but-is-it-life>), medical researchers are getting quite good at engineering synthetic organs. They've already been able to [grow artificial lungs](<https://futurism.com/growing-lungs-scientists-are-using-stem-cells-to-try-and-grow-human-lungs-in-a-dish>) and create [mini-retinas](<https://futurism.com/cells-and-dna-a-basic-breakdown>) using stem cells, as well as 3-D print [artificial bones](<https://futurism.com/doctors-can-now-3d-print-bones-on-demand-thanks-to-a-new-hyperelastic-material>) and a heart. More progress in the field is still needed as it's far from perfected, but where conventional and contemporary medicine fails, the [medical developments of the future](<https://futurism.com/scientists-target-2026-as-the-year-of-the-first-synthetic-genome>) will prevail.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-john-galeon-9b086925/>)  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/domgaleon>)