• Scientists bioprint tissue-like construc

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Thu Mar 31 22:30:46 2022
    Scientists bioprint tissue-like constructs capable of controlled,
    complex shape change
    4D constructs have the potential to mimic how tissues change shape in the
    body

    Date:
    March 31, 2022
    Source:
    University of Illinois Chicago
    Summary:
    New cell-laden bioink, comprised of tightly-packed, flake-shaped
    microgels and living cells, the production of cell-rich 4D
    bioconstructs that can change shape under physiological conditions.



    FULL STORY ========================================================================== Where standard 3D printing uses a digital blueprint to manufacture
    an object out of materials like plastic or resin, 3D bioprinting
    manufactures biological parts and tissues out of living cells, or
    bioinks. A fourth dimension -- shape transformation over time -- can be achieved by incorporating materials that enable printed constructs to
    morph multiple times in a preprogrammed or on- demand manner in response
    to external signals.


    ========================================================================== Bioprinting 4D constructs provides opportunities for scientists to better
    mimic the shape changes that occur during the development, healing and
    normal function of real tissues and fabricate complex structures.

    A new study in the science journal Advanced Materials describes the
    development of a new cell-laden bioink, comprised of tightly-packed, flake-shaped microgels and living cells, for bioprinting 4D
    constructs. This new system enables the production of cell-rich
    bioconstructs that can change shape under physiological conditions.

    Titled "Jammed Micro-Flake Hydrogel for Four-Dimensional Living Cell Bioprinting," the study is authored by engineers at the University of
    Illinois Chicago who created the bioink and conducted experiments of
    prototype hydrogels.

    Their experiments resulted in a variety of complex bioconstructs
    with well- defined configurations and high cell viability, including a 4D?cartilage-like tissue formation. Further designs demonstrate complex, multiple 3D-to-3D shape transformations in bioconstructs fabricated in
    a single printing.

    "This bioink system provides the opportunity to print bioconstructs
    capable of achieving more sophisticated architectural changes over
    time than was previously possible. These cell-rich structures with pre-programmable and controllable shape morphing promise to better mimic
    the body's natural developmental processes and could help scientists
    conduct more accurate studies of tissue morphogenesis and achieve
    greater advances in tissue engineering," said study corresponding
    author Eben Alsberg, Richard and Loan Hill Chair, who has appointments
    in the departments of biomedical engineering, mechanical and industrial engineering, pharmacology and regenerative medicine, and orthopaedics.

    Alsberg says the bioink advances previous technologies in several ways.

    "The bioinks have what are called shear-thinning and rapid self-healing properties that enable smooth extrusion-based printing with high
    resolution and high fidelity without a supporting bath. The printed bioconstructs, after further stabilization by light-based crosslinking,
    remain intact while, for example, bending, twisting or undergoing any
    number of multiple deformations.

    With this system, cartilage-like tissues with complex shapes that evolve
    over time could be bioengineered," Alsberg said. "Another key achievement
    was engineering a system that enables fabrication of bioconstructs capable
    of undergoing complicated 3D-to-3D shape transformations." "This is
    the first system that meets the demanding requirements of bioprinting 4D constructs: load living cells in bioinks, enable printing of large complex structures, trigger shape transformation under physiological conditions, support long-term cell viability and facilitate desired cell functions
    such as tissue regeneration," said Aixiang Ding, postdoctoral research associate at UIC and the first author of the paper. "We are endeavoring to translate this system into clinical applications of tissue engineering,
    as there is a critical shortage of available donor tissues and organs."
    UIC's Oju Jeon, David Cleveland, Kaelyn Gasvoda, Derrick Wells and Sang
    Jin Lee are co-authors of the paper.

    This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Arthritis
    and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01AR069564, R01AR066193) and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (R01EB023907).


    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Illinois_Chicago. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Related Multimedia:
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    Bioprinted_cell-rich_bioconstructs_showing_controlled,_complex_4D_shape
    transformations ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Aixiang Ding, Oju Jeon, David Cleveland, Kaelyn L. Gasvoda, Derrick
    Wells, Sang Jin Lee, Eben Alsberg. Jammed Micro‐Flake Hydrogel
    for Four‐Dimensional Living Cell Bioprinting. Advanced
    Materials, 2022; 2109394 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202109394 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220331151445.htm

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