title: Silk based bioinks for soft tissue reconstruction using 3-dimensional (3D) printing with in vitro and in vivo assessments.
abstract: In the field of soft tissue reconstruction, custom implants could address the need for materials that can fill complex geometries. Our aim was to develop a material system with optimal rheology for material extrusion, that can be processed in physiological and non-toxic conditions and provide structural support for soft tissue reconstruction. To meet this need we developed silk based bioinks using gelatin as a bulking agent and glycerol as a non-toxic additive to induce physical crosslinking. We developed these inks optimizing printing efficacy and resolution for patient-specific geometries that can be used for soft tissue reconstruction. We demonstrated in vitro that the material was stable under physiological conditions and could be tuned to match soft tissue mechanical properties. We demonstrated in vivo that the material was biocompatible and could be tuned to maintain shape and volume up to three months while promoting cellular infiltration and tissue integration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jodie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Fiorenzo G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Omenetto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA. Electronic address: david.kaplan@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000254:growth & development*; D003239:Connective Tissue Cells / Q000502:physiology; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007281:Ink; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D047011:Silk; D005780:Gelatin
keywords: 3D printing; Bioink; Regeneration; Silk; Soft tissue