Fabrication of three-dimensional cell constructs using temperature-responsive hydrogel.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Scaffold materials can impede tissue regeneration in certain applications.
• Developing cell-only constructs is crucial for advancing tissue engineering.
• Novel methods are needed for creating controlled 3D cell structures without scaffolds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for fabricating morphologically controlled, scaffold-free three-dimensional (3D) cell constructs.
• To utilize a thermoresponsive hydrogel as a mold for creating diverse cell structures.
• To explore the potential of these constructs in tissue engineering and biological research.

Main Methods:

• A 3D thermoresponsive hydrogel (poly-N-isopropylacrylamide) was synthesized and used as a mold material.
• The hydrogel mold, shaped via 3D printing, was used to form cell constructs.
• Cell constructs were detached from the hydrogel mold by a simple temperature change, leveraging volume transition.

Main Results:

• Scaffold-free 3D osteoblast cell constructs and monolayered cell sheets were successfully fabricated with controlled morphologies.
• Detachment of cell constructs was achieved through temperature-induced hydrogel volume changes, independent of surface chemistry.
• The hydrogel maintained surface hydrophilicity across a wide temperature range, facilitating cell detachment.

Conclusions:

• A novel method using thermoresponsive hydrogel molds allows for the creation of versatile, scaffold-free 2D and 3D cell constructs.
• These cell constructs offer potential applications as cell carriers for tissue regeneration and as model systems for biological studies.