Latvian startup PrintyMed develops artificial spider silk for medical use

Latvian startup PrintyMed is working on an innovative material based on artificial spider silk that could eventually find use across several areas of medicine. Potential applications mentioned include membranes for so-called organ-on-chip devices, wound dressings, heart valves, and frameworks for artificial organs.

From lab to market

In an interview with TVNET, company CEO and co-founder Jekaterina Romanova explained that PrintyMed originated from a discovery made by Latvian scientists, which over time grew into a company. According to her, the journey from a laboratory finding to a finished market product requires not only strong scientific groundwork but also entrepreneurial courage, patience, and the ability to find the right people to work with.

Romanova noted that the right contacts and industry connections can sometimes prove just as valuable as funding, helping a startup move forward on the difficult path from idea to real-world application.

Support from LIAA

According to the interview, the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) has played a significant role in the company's progress, helping PrintyMed bring its developed material closer to both the market and to patients who could eventually benefit from such medical technologies.

If the company's intended applications are successfully developed into finished products, they could have an impact across several areas of medicine — from diagnostic tools built on organ-on-chip technology to more complex solutions such as frameworks for artificial organs.