Direct-write bioprinting of cell-laden methacrylated gelatin hydrogels.
Fabrication of three dimensional (3D) organoids with controlled microarchitectures has been shown to enhance tissue functionality. Bioprinting can be used to precisely position cells and cell-laden materials to generate controlled tissue architecture. Therefore, it represents an exciting alternative for organ fabrication. Despite the rapid progress in the field, the development of printing processes that can be used to fabricate macroscale tissue constructs from ECM-derived hydrogels has remained a challenge. Here we report a strategy for bioprinting of photolabile cell-laden methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) hydrogels. We bioprinted cell-laden GelMA at concentrations ranging from 7 to 15% with varying cell densities and found a direct correlation between printability and the hydrogel mechanical properties. Furthermore, encapsulated HepG2 cells preserved cell viability for at least eight days following the bioprinting process. In summary, this work presents a strategy for direct-write bioprinting of a cell-laden photolabile ECM-derived hydrogel, which may find widespread application for tissue engineering, organ printing and the development of 3D drug discovery platforms.
Biomaterials Research Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia. Center for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, USA. Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Luiz E
LE
Bertassoni
Juliana C
JC
Cardoso
Vijayan
V
Manoharan
Ana L
AL
Cristino
Nupura S
NS
Bhise
Wesleyan A
WA
Araujo
Pinar
P
Zorlutuna
Nihal E
NE
Vrana
Amir M
AM
Ghaemmaghami
Mehmet R
MR
Dokmeci
Ali
A
Khademhosseini
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D062028:Bioprinting / Q000379:methods*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D008689:Methacrylates; D005780:Gelatin