The condition, which until now has required surgical treatment, can cause serious problems later in the upper urinary tract.

The university’s Dr. Dorota Bociąg said: “The defect occurs in one in 250 newborn boys. The urethral opening is not in the correct position on the ventral surface of the penis.

“There are almost several hundred different solutions and surgical methods that doctors can use to treat hypospadias. The problem is that none of them is good or effective enough.

“Today, doctors do not have a medical device at their disposal that would allow the implantation of a urethra that will integrate with the body or degrade over time, but also function properly.”

She continued: “We are at the stage of finalizing the development of materials from which we will print the bionic urethra.

“It will consist of three layers, each of them has its own specific task. The layer from which urine flows must be antibacterial and pressure-resistant.

“Our goal is for the bionic coil to be ‘encased’ by the body's natural cells and grow with the child.

“The outer layers are there to support the inner structure so it has time to grow. It should also protect the inner layer against the pressure of other body tissues.”

The scientists now plan to test the innovation on animals before moving to the next stage of development.