Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Combining 3D-Printing and Electrospinning to Manufacture Biomimetic Heart Valve Leaflets
Published on: March 23, 2022
Biofabrication of valentine-shaped heart with a composite hydrogel and sacrificial material
Qiang Zou1, Brian E Grottkau2, Zhixu He3
1Key Laboratory of Adult Stem Cell Transformation Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Guiyang, 550004, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Cell Engineering and Biomedicine, Guiyang, 550004, China; Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China.
Abstract:
3D bioprinting represents a potential solution for organs regeneration, however, the production of complex tissues and organs that are in large size, randomly shaped, hollow, and contain integrated pre-vascularization still faces multiple challenges. This study aimed to test the feasibility of our 3D printing scheme for the manufacturing of micro-fluid channel networks complex three-dimensional tissue structures. The reverse engineering software was used to design the CAD model and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as the sacrificial material to print the sacrificial stent use the bioprinter nozzle 1. Hydrogel composite H9c2 and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were mixed with sodium alginate, agarose solution and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as cellular bioink, which was extruded through nozzle 2 to deposit the internal pores of the sacrificial scaffold. The scaffold dissolved, change to a flexible, hollow and micro-fluid channel networks complex structure. The 3D-bioprinting technology can construct a micro-fluid channel networks valentine heart with a self-defined height and hollow in suitable mechanical properties. The cells proliferate and maintain their biological properties within the printed constructs. This study demonstrates that valentine heart-like constructs can be fabricated with 3D bioprinting using sacrificial and hydrogel materials.

