title: Three-dimensional bioprinting of cell-laden constructs with polycaprolactone protective layers for using various thermoplastic polymers.
abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) cell-printed constructs have been recognized as promising biological substitutes for tissue/organ regeneration. They provide tailored physical properties and biological cues via multi-material printing process. In particular, hybrid bioprinting, enabling to use biodegradable synthetic polymers as framework, has been an attractive method to support weak hydrogels. The constructs with controlled architecture and high shape fidelity were fabricated through this method, depositing spatial arrangement of multi-cell types into microscale constructs. Among biodegradable synthetic polymers, polycaprolactone (PCL) has been commonly chosen in fabrication of cell-printed constructs because of its low melting temperature of 60 °C to be dispensed with extrusion-based bioprinting system. However, in addition to PCL, various synthetic polymers have been widely applied for tissue regeneration. These polymers have distinctive characteristics essential for tissue/organ regeneration. Nevertheless, it is difficult to use some polymers, such as poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polylactic acid (PLA) with 3D bioprinting technology because of their high melting temperature to be dispensed, which can result in thermal damage to the cells in the printed constructs during the fabrication process. We present a novel bioprinting method to use various synthetic polymers in fabrication of cell-printed constructs. PCL was introduced as a protective layer to prevent thermal damage caused by high temperature of polymers during fabrication. Remarkable improvement in cellular activities in the printed constructs with PCL layers was observed compared with the construct without PCL. This bioprinting method can be applied to fabricate more tissue-like constructs through the use of various biomaterials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jinah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Suhun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jeong-Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Minjun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Dong-Woo
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D062028:Bioprinting / Q000379:methods*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019245:Compressive Strength; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D013696:Temperature; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; C016240:polycaprolactone; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid