Continuous Fabrication and Assembly of Spatial Cell-Laden Fibers for a Tissue-Like Construct via a Photolithographic-Based Microfluidic Chip.
Engineering three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds with in vivo like architecture and function has shown great potential for tissue regeneration. Here we developed a facile microfluidic-based strategy for the continuous fabrication of cell-laden microfibers with hierarchically organized architecture. We show that photolithographically fabricated microfluidic devices offer a simple and reliable way to create anatomically inspired complex structures. Furthermore, the use of photo-cross-linkable methacrylated alginate allows modulation of both the mechanical properties and biological activity of the hydrogels for targeted applications. Via this approach, multilayered hollow microfibers were continuously fabricated, which can be easily assembled in situ, using 3D printing, into a larger, tissue-like construct. Importantly, this biomimetic approach promoted the development of phenotypical functions of the target tissue. As a model to engineer a complex tissue construct, osteon-like fiber was biomimetically engineered, and enhanced vasculogenic and osteogenic expression were observed in the encapsulated human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells and osteoblast-like MG63 cells respectively within the osteon fibers. The capability of this approach to create functional building blocks will be advantageous for bottom-up regeneration of complex, large tissue defects and, more broadly, will benefit a variety of applications in tissue engineering and biomedical research.
National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China.
Dan
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4869-8615
D
Wei
National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China.
Jing
J
Sun
Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8LT, U.K.
Jason
J
Bolderson
National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China.
Meiling
M
Zhong
Matthew John
MJ
Dalby
Maggie
M
Cusack
Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8LT, U.K.
Huabing
H
Yin
National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China.
Hongsong
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3812-9208
H
Fan
National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China.
Xingdong
X
Zhang
D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D044085:Microfluidics; D010006:Osteoblasts; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D020100:Hydrogels
biofabrication; cell-laden hydrogel; microfluidic; microscale tissue engineering; osteon-like