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Multicomponent bioprinting of heterogeneous hydrogel constructs based on microfluidic printheads
Fan Feng1,2, Jiankang He1,2, Jiaxin Li1,2
1State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
International Journal of Bioprinting
|June 30, 2020
Summary
This study introduces a novel multicomponent bioprinting method using a microfluidic printhead. This technique enables flexible control over material composition for creating complex, heterogeneous artificial tissues with improved efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Multimaterial bioprinting aims to replicate native tissue complexity.
- Existing methods face challenges in flexible material composition control due to multiple nozzles and complex programming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simpler, more flexible multicomponent bioprinting strategy.
- To enable controlled fabrication of heterogeneous constructs with tunable material gradients.
Main Methods:
- A microfluidic printhead with multiple inlets and one outlet was employed.
- Volumetric flow rate ratios were adjusted to control filament composition.
- A rotary microfluidic printhead and coaxial printhead were utilized for complex structures.
Main Results:
- Successfully printed heterogeneous hydrogel constructs with spatial gradients of inks and microparticles.
- Demonstrated the ability to maintain heterogeneous morphology despite changes in printing path direction.
- Fabricated multicellular concentric ring constructs with distinct cell type distributions efficiently.
Conclusions:
- The developed multicomponent bioprinting strategy offers a simple and promising approach for fabricating heterogeneous artificial tissues.
- This method enhances printing efficiency for complex, multicellular structures.
