Precise stacking of decellularized extracellular matrix based 3D cell-laden constructs by a 3D cell printing system equipped with heating modules

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) cell printing systems allow the controlled and precise deposition of multiple cells in 3D constructs. Hydrogel materials have been used extensively as printable bioinks owing to their ability to safely encapsulate living cells. However, hydrogel-based bioinks have drawbacks for cell printing, e.g. inappropriate crosslinking and liquid-like rheological properties, which hinder precise 3D shaping. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the influence of various factors (e.g. bioink concentration, viscosity, and extent of crosslinking) on cell printing and established a new 3D cell printing system equipped with heating modules for the precise stacking of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM)-based 3D cell-laden constructs. Because the pH-adjusted bioink isolated from native tissue is safely gelled at 37 °C, our heating system facilitated the precise stacking of dECM bioinks by enabling simultaneous gelation during printing. We observed greater printability compared with that of a non-heating system. These results were confirmed by mechanical testing and 3D construct stacking analyses. We also confirmed that our heating system did not elicit negative effects, such as cell death, in the printed cells. Conclusively, these results hold promise for the application of 3D bioprinting to tissue engineering and drug development.

Human lung extracellular matrix hydrogels resemble the stiffness and viscoelasticity of native lung tissue

“…Natural hydrogels have been generated from, e.g. decellularized human adipose (20), heart (15), and liver (17) tissue and more (1,9,23,25). As for the lung, hydrogels have been generated from porcine lung ECM (22).…”

Trends in Decellularized Extracellular Matrix Bioinks for 3D Printing: Inspiring a new Kind of Medicine

“…dECM bioinks only require the maintenance of ECM composition and therefore tissue and organs can be cut, sliced or ground into small pieces [75,76]. The pieces are then exposed to decellularization agent with shaking for different periods of time ranging from hours to days and sometimes weeks [14,42,52,73,77]. In addition, cutting or slicing tissue or organ into small pieces allows the process of decellularization to be done in a short time due to increased surface area [73].…”

“…In addition, the dECM bioink was able to enhance the formation and maturation of myotubes than a collagen bioink and responded well to electrical stimulation [106]. Ahn and co-workers derived dECM bioink from porcine skin tissues, with their method showing the retention of collagen from the native tissue [77]. The authors showed that their method of bioprinting, involving a heating system, did not adversely affect cell viability whilst ensuring gelation of dECM bioink [77].…”

“…Ahn and co-workers derived dECM bioink from porcine skin tissues, with their method showing the retention of collagen from the native tissue [77]. The authors showed that their method of bioprinting, involving a heating system, did not adversely affect cell viability whilst ensuring gelation of dECM bioink [77]. About a tenth of the human body mass comes from the skin, its largest organ.…”

Recent advances in three‐dimensional bioprinting of stem cells

“…Decellularized tissue or ECM‐based bioink formulations are developing fields due to their ease of printability and their inherent bioactivity (Ji & Guvendiren, ). dECM from cartilage (Pati et al, ), fat (Pati et al, ), heart (Das & Jang, ), skin (Ahn et al, ), and liver (Lee et al, ) has already been used for 3D bioprinting. Further, in the future, dECM from one tissue might be applied for another tissue.…”