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Viability of Bioprinted Cellular Constructs Using a Three Dispenser Cartesian Printer
Published on: September 22, 2015
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Development, characterization, and applications of multi-material stereolithography bioprinting
Bagrat Grigoryan1, Daniel W Sazer1, Amanda Avila1
1Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
Scientific Reports
|February 5, 2021
Summary
This study introduces a multi-material bioprinter for 3D hydrogel stereolithography, enabling precise control over bioink placement. This innovation facilitates the creation of complex tissue models to study cell interactions and heterogeneity.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Tissue Engineering
- 3D Bioprinting
Background:
- Hydrogel stereolithography is limited in replicating tissue heterogeneity due to bioink mixing.
- Capturing spatial heterogeneity is crucial for understanding tissue structure-function relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a multi-material stereolithography bioprinter.
- To demonstrate its capability in precise bioink selection and minimizing material mixing.
- To create 3D cell-laden constructs for studying cellular behavior and tissue microenvironments.
Main Methods:
- Developed a multi-material stereolithography bioprinter.
- Utilized fluorescent tracers and morphometric analysis to validate architectural fidelity.
- Printed 344SQ lung adenocarcinoma cells in core/shell and multicellular aggregate architectures.
- Modeled intratumoral heterogeneity using distinct cell sub-populations.
Main Results:
- The bioprinter achieved controlled material selection and precise regional feature alignment.
- Printed cells exhibited native phenotypic behavior, including proliferation and aggregate formation.
- Cells responded to growth factors, developing invasive protrusions.
- A simplified model of intratumoral heterogeneity was successfully constructed.
Conclusions:
- Multi-material stereolithography overcomes limitations in replicating tissue heterogeneity.
- This technology enables the creation of advanced 3D tissue models.
- It holds potential for investigating heterotypic cell interactions within tissue-specific microenvironments.

