Patient-specific meniscus prototype based on 3D bioprinting of human cell-laden scaffold

Abstract

Objectives Meniscal injuries are often associated with an active lifestyle. The damage of meniscal tissue puts young patients at higher risk of undergoing meniscal surgery and, therefore, at higher risk of osteoarthritis. In this study, we undertook proof-of-concept research to develop a cellularized human meniscus by using 3D bioprinting technology. Methods A 3D model of bioengineered medial meniscus tissue was created, based on MRI scans of a human volunteer. The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data from these MRI scans were processed using dedicated software, in order to obtain an STL model of the structure. The chosen 3D Discovery printing tool was a microvalve-based inkjet printhead. Primary mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from bone marrow and embedded in a collagen-based bio-ink before printing. LIVE/DEAD assay was performed on realized cell-laden constructs carrying MSCs in order to evaluate cell distribution and viability. Results This study involved the realization of a human cell-laden collagen meniscus using 3D bioprinting. The meniscus prototype showed the biological potential of this technology to provide an anatomically shaped, patient-specific construct with viable cells on a biocompatible material. Conclusion This paper reports the preliminary findings of the production of a custom-made, cell-laden, collagen-based human meniscus. The prototype described could act as the starting point for future developments of this collagen-based, tissue-engineered structure, which could aid the optimization of implants designed to replace damaged menisci. Cite this article : G. Filardo, M. Petretta, C. Cavallo, L. Roseti, S. Durante, U. Albisinni, B. Grigolo. Patient-specific meniscus prototype based on 3D bioprinting of human cell-laden scaffold. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:101–106. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.82.BJR-2018-0134.R1.

Bioprinted Injectable Hierarchically Porous Gelatin Methacryloyl Hydrogel Constructs with Shape‐Memory Properties

“…[ 12 ] The 3D‐bioprinted cell‐laden hydrogels could therefore intimately meet the needs for various customizable shapes at the macroscale for tissue repair. [ 13 ] Although 3D bioprinting has been widely used to engineer macro‐nanoporous cell‐laden hydrogels with a variety of defined shapes, creating micro‐nanoporous‐structured cell‐laden hydrogels that simultaneously possess excellent injectability and shape‐recovery property post‐injection remains an unmet need. Recently, we have developed an aqueous two‐phase emulsion bioink that could allow facile fabrication of micro‐nanoporous cell‐laden hydrogels with defined shapes.…”

Patient‐Specific Bone Particles Bioprinting for Bone Tissue Engineering

“…As a result, a plethora of innovative strategies has been developed including printing at low temperatures, [23] blending with viscosity modulators [24,25] or fugitive inks. [26] While the printability has been generally successfully addressed, leading to the manufacturing of anatomically accurate patient-specific cellladen constructs, [27] the biofunctionality of the bioprinted construct is significantly overlooked and biological evaluations are mostly limited to cell viability and proliferation until recently. In other words, the crucial challenge of bioprinting remains in the development of bioink systems that not only have optimal printability, but generate a suitable microenvironment for cell proliferation and differentiation [28,29] and are capable of functionally replaced a tissue or an organ.…”

Rejuvenated ageing mesenchymal stem cells by stepwise preconditioning ameliorates surgery-induced osteoarthritis in rabbits

“…Bone marrow (BM) nucleated cells were harvested as described in previous studies. 18 , 19 In brief, the fractured femoral head was removed by the surgeons (JC and BW) before harvesting the BM from the femoral shaft. Using aseptic techniques, BM samples were harvested and transferred to cell culture lab immediately in cold phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) on ice.…”