Layer by layer 3D tissue epitaxy by cell laden hydrogel droplets

• Main Authors: Hasan, S.K., SangJun Moon, Song, Y.S., Keles, H.O., Manzur, F., Mikkilineni, S., Jong Wook Hong, Jiro Nagatomi, Haeggstrom, E., Khademhosseini, A., Demirci, U.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer; Diseases; Epitaxial growth; Molecular beam epitaxial growth; Muscles; Printing; Semiconductor device manufacture; Sliding mode control; Thickness control; Throughput
• ISSN: 2160-6986; 2160-7028
• DOI: 10.1109/NEBC.2009.4967708

We created 3D tissue constructs epitaxially by printing cell-laden hydrogel droplets. The ability to bioengineer 3D tissues is a powerful new approach to treat diverse diseases such as cancer, loss of tissue function, or organ failure. Inspired by the molecular beam epitaxy technique, a common semiconductor manufacturing technology, we present a platform that prints the first example of a 3D smooth muscle (SMC) patch (5 mm times 5 mm times 81 m) consisting of multiple cell-laden hydrogel layers. The bioprinting platform that we developed allows (i) high throughput patterning of SMCs encapsulated in collagen hydrogel droplets (3 seconds/patch), (ii) microscale spatial and temporal droplet placement control (proximal axis: 18 plusmn 15 m, distal axis:0 plusmn 10 m), (iii) printing of 3D cell-laden hydrogel structures (16.2 m thick per layer), (iv) cell seeding uniformity (85 plusmn 13 cells/mm 2 at 1 million cells/ml; 186 plusmn 77 cells/mm 2 at 10 million cells/ml). This new platform to print 3D tissue constructs has potential for future therapeutic value in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering leading to printed replacement organs.