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Updated: May 5, 2026
Bioprintable Alginate/Gelatin Hydrogel 3D In Vitro Model Systems Induce Cell Spheroid Formation
Published on: July 2, 2018
Mechanical characterization of bioprinted in vitro soft tissue models
Ting Zhang1, Karen Chang Yan, Liliang Ouyang
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomanufacturing Engineering Research Institute, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China. Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China. Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China.
Bioprinting creates advanced 3D tissue models for research. Structural design improves mechanical properties, crucial for mimicking the body
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Bioprinting Technology
Background:
- Bioprinting enables fabrication of complex, cell-encapsulated tissue constructs for therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications.
- Mechanical properties of bioprinted in vitro tissue models are critical for mimicking the in vivo mechanochemical microenvironment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct 3D in vitro soft tissue models with varying structure and porosity using 3D cell-assembly.
- To assess the mechanical properties and cell bioactivity of these models.
- To evaluate the applicability of material constitutive models for fitting experimental data.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of 3D in vitro soft tissue models using gelatin/alginate hybrid materials and embedded cells via 3D cell-assembly.
- Mechanical property assessment using compression tests at various culture times.
- Evaluation of cell bioactivity and fitting experimental data with Ogden and experiential models.
Main Results:
- Mechanical properties can be enhanced through structural design.
- Compression modulus and strength decrease over the first week of culture.
- Experimental data showed good agreement with the Ogden model and an experiential function.
Conclusions:
- Structural design is a key factor in optimizing mechanical properties of bioprinted soft tissue models.
- The study provides a foundation for further research into mechanical properties and structural effects in in vitro tissue model design.
- The Ogden model and experiential function are suitable for describing the mechanical behavior of these models.
