Decellularized Extracellular Matrix-based Bioinks for Engineering Tissue- and Organ-specific Microenvironments

Abstract

Biomaterials-based biofabrication methods have gained much attention in recent years. Among them, 3D cell printing is a pioneering technology to facilitate the recapitulation of unique features of complex human tissues and organs with high process flexibility and versatility. Bioinks, combinations of printable hydrogel and cells, can be utilized to create 3D cell-printed constructs. The bioactive cues of bioinks directly trigger cells to induce tissue morphogenesis. Among the various printable hydrogels, the tissue- and organ-specific decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) can exert synergistic effects in supporting various cells at any component by facilitating specific physiological properties. In this review, we aim to discuss a new paradigm of dECM-based bioinks able to recapitulate the inherent microenvironmental niche in 3D cell-printed constructs. This review can serve as a toolbox for biomedical engineers who want to understand the beneficial characteristics of the dECM-based bioinks and a basic set of fundamental criteria for printing functional human tissues and organs.

Construction of a Novel In Vitro Atherosclerotic Model from Geometry‐Tunable Artery Equivalents Engineered via In‐Bath Coaxial Cell Printing

“…Owing to these features, tubular structures were successfully printed and stably preserved in 3% VdECM bioink, thereby confirming that this material could be used as a pre‐gel suspension. In addition, several studies have demonstrated that various dECM‐based bioinks can respond to physical stimuli (e.g., shear stress), such as shear thinning behavior, [ 26 ] implying their feasibility as a supporting bath. Therefore, considering the outstanding biofunctionality of dECM bioinks, our findings suggest that the materials in this category might be promising alternatives for fabricating gel‐embedded 3D bioprinted tissue/organ models.…”

Application of 3D bioprinting in the prevention and the therapy for human diseases

“…Hydrogels for bioink are required to (1) flow under modest pressures, (2) solidify quickly, and (3) sustain adequate integrity after building up. 50 , 51 In the sol–gel transition process, fibers in solutions can be physically or chemically cross-linked by external stimuli, such as temperature, light source, or ion concentration. 52 The main strength of physical cross-linking is the absence of cytotoxic chemical agents.…”

3D Printing and Nanotechnology: A Multiscale Alliance in Personalized Medicine

“…Due to the ability of 3D printing to create porous scaffolds with complex structure and the good perspective in the 3D fabrication of personalized grafts, [ 108 ] in the past few years, a large number of articles have explored this manufacturing process to produce tissue engineering grafts. [ 109,110 ] Combined with 3D printing, the use of nanostructured materials has also been employed due to its versatile functionalities: These materials improve drug solubility and stability and act as drug carriers. In addition, they can increase the surface area of materials or help in the process of cell adhesion, specifically in cell growth.…”