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Manipulating Living Cells to Construct Stable 3D Cellular Assembly Without Artificial Scaffold
Published on: October 26, 2018
Directed self-assembly of large scaffold-free multi-cellular honeycomb structures
Nalin Tejavibulya1, Jacquelyn Youssef, Brian Bao
1Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, G-B 393, Biomed Center, 171 Meeting St, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Biofabrication
|August 11, 2011
Summary
Researchers developed large, multi-cellular honeycomb structures for biofabrication using directed self-assembly. This novel method overcomes size limitations of spheroids, enabling rapid construction of complex living tissues and organs.
Area of Science:
- Biofabrication
- Tissue Engineering
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Constructing large three-dimensional (3D) living tissues and organs rapidly remains a significant challenge in biofabrication.
- Multi-cellular spheroids are commonly used as building blocks, but their size is limited by diffusion distances crucial for cell viability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for creating large, multi-cellular honeycomb building blocks for tissue engineering.
- To utilize directed self-assembly driven by cell-to-cell adhesion within micro-molds to form complex 3D structures.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of honeycomb-shaped micro-molds using computer-aided design, rapid prototyping, and replica molding.
- Equilibration of nonadhesive hydrogels cast from these molds in cell culture medium.
- Seeding with two types of mammalian cells, leveraging cell-to-cell adhesion for self-assembly within 24 hours.
Main Results:
- Successful creation of large multi-cellular honeycomb structures using directed self-assembly.
- Demonstration of cell-mediated tension through distinct morphological changes in the honeycomb and cells.
- Overcoming the size limitations inherent in spheroid-based biofabrication.
Conclusions:
- The rapid production of honeycomb building units with high-density cell rings and open lumen spaces offers new possibilities for biofabrication.
- This self-assembly approach provides a scalable strategy for generating larger and more complex 3D living tissue constructs.
- The honeycomb structure's architecture supports cell viability and tissue development without diffusion constraints.
