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Decellularized extracellular matrix-based bio-ink with enhanced 3D printability and mechanical properties
Min Kyeong Kim1, Wonwoo Jeong1, Sang Min Lee1
1School of life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50, UNIST-gil, Ulju-gun 44919, Ulsan, Republic of Korea.
Biofabrication
|November 30, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a new decellularized extracellular matrix bio-ink (dECM bio-ink) using micro-particles for improved 3D printing and mechanical strength. This enhanced dECM powder-based bio-ink (dECM pBio-ink) shows promise for tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) bio-inks offer excellent biocompatibility for tissue engineering.
- Conventional dECM bio-inks face limitations in 3D printability and mechanical integrity.
- Developing improved dECM bio-inks is crucial for advanced tissue fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a novel dECM bio-ink with enhanced 3D printability and mechanical properties.
- To evaluate the printability, mechanical characteristics, and cytocompatibility of the new bio-ink.
- To demonstrate the potential of the enhanced bio-ink in fabricating complex micro-architectures.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) micro-particles (approx. 13.4 μm) from porcine liver via freeze-milling.
- Formulation of a new dECM powder-based bio-ink (dECM pBio-ink) by incorporating dECM micro-particles into a gelatin mixture.
- Assessment of mechanical properties (elastic modulus), 3D printability (layer stacking), and cytocompatibility (cell viability) using endothelial cells and hepatocytes.
Main Results:
- The dECM pBio-ink exhibited significantly improved mechanical properties, with an elastic modulus up to 9.17 times higher than conventional dECM bio-ink.
- Enhanced 3D printability was achieved, enabling successful micro-pattern fabrication with high structural integrity during layer stacking.
- Cell viability remained high (93%) in printed micro-patterns, demonstrating excellent cytocompatibility comparable to conventional dECM bio-inks.
Conclusions:
- The developed dECM powder-based bio-ink overcomes the limitations of conventional dECM bio-inks regarding printability and mechanical strength.
- The enhanced bio-ink supports cell viability and enables the fabrication of complex 3D structures, showing significant potential for tissue engineering.
- This advancement offers a promising biomaterial for creating functional tissue constructs and exploring new regenerative medicine strategies.
