3D Bioprinting and In Vitro Cardiovascular Tissue Modeling

Abstract

Numerous microfabrication approaches have been developed to recapitulate morphologically and functionally organized tissue microarchitectures in vitro; however, the technical and operational limitations remain to be overcome. 3D printing technology facilitates the building of a construct containing biomaterials and cells in desired organizations and shapes that have physiologically relevant geometry, complexity, and micro-environmental cues. The selection of biomaterials for 3D printing is considered one of the most critical factors to achieve tissue function. It has been reported that some printable biomaterials, having extracellular matrix-like intrinsic microenvironment factors, were capable of regulating stem cell fate and phenotype. In particular, this technology can control the spatial positions of cells, and provide topological, chemical, and complex cues, allowing neovascularization and maturation in the engineered cardiovascular tissues. This review will delineate the state-of-the-art 3D bioprinting techniques in the field of cardiovascular tissue engineering and their applications in translational medicine. In addition, this review will describe 3D printing-based pre-vascularization technologies correlated with implementing blood perfusion throughout the engineered tissue equivalent. The described engineering method may offer a unique approach that results in the physiological mimicry of human cardiovascular tissues to aid in drug development and therapeutic approaches.

Nonmulberry Silk Based Ink for Fabricating Mechanically Robust Cardiac Patches and Endothelialized Myocardium‐on‐a‐Chip Application

“…Human induced pluripotent stem cells derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC‐CMs) seeded on these vascularized bioprinted scaffolds resulted in creating a mature and spontaneously contracting (75–80 beats min −1 ) endothelialized myocardial tissue. Providing a local elastic modulus and integrin based binding motifs similar to the native ECM of cardiac tissue, these materials help the cardiomyocytes to attach and mature . The natural polymer based bioinks thus provide an ideal environment for the cardiomyocytes to be functionally active in an in vitro culture .…”

FABRICA: A Bioreactor Platform for Printing, Perfusing, Observing, & Stimulating 3D Tissues

“…As tissue engineering techniques and tissue models continue to advance 1 , 3 , 22 , 26 – 29 , it is critically important to develop effective methods for the long-term culture, condition, and observation of tissue engineered constructs 5 , 7 , 8 , 12 , 17 , 21 , 26 . Therefore, advanced bioreactors are needed to advance biofabrication, bioprinting, and tissue engineering.…”

Bioprinting

“…Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of death globally. According to World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease accounts for more than one third of the total deaths each year [50,51]. Depending on severity, treatment solutions may require replacement of damaged vital vasculature, or even heart transplantation.…”

“…The generation and use of human pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) is of growing interest for many applications as they can differentiate into multiple cell lineages [50]. Zhang et al demonstrated a bioprinting methodology to fabricate Bioprinting DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81135 endothelialized myocardium using iPSCs [57].…”