A highly printable and biocompatible hydrogel composite for direct printing of soft and perfusable vasculature-like structures

Sci Rep. 2017 Dec 4;7(1):16902. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17198-0.

Abstract

Vascularization is one major obstacle in bioprinting and tissue engineering. In order to create thick tissues or organs that can function like original body parts, the presence of a perfusable vascular system is essential. However, it is challenging to bioprint a hydrogel-based three-dimensional vasculature-like structure in a single step. In this paper, we report a new hydrogel-based composite that offers impressive printability, shape integrity, and biocompatibility for 3D bioprinting of a perfusable complex vasculature-like structure. The hydrogel composite can be used on a non-liquid platform and is printable at human body temperature. Moreover, the hydrogel composite supports both cell proliferation and cell differentiation. Our results represent a potentially new vascularization strategy for 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology
  • Blood Vessels / chemistry
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Ink
  • Methacrylates / chemistry
  • Poloxamer / chemistry
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional*
  • Rheology
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Hydrogels
  • Methacrylates
  • Poloxamer