Symbiotic Photosynthetic Oxygenation within 3D-Bioprinted Vascularized Tissues

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Bioengineering
• Tissue Engineering
• Synthetic Biology

Background:

• Hypoxia is a major challenge in engineered tissues, limiting cell viability and function.
• Current oxygenation methods for 3D cell cultures are often complex and inefficient.
• Sustainable and cost-effective oxygen sources are needed for advanced tissue development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for oxygen supply to mammalian cells using photosynthetic algae.
• To create vascularized mammalian tissue constructs with enhanced cell viability and function.
• To explore the potential of *Chlamydomonas reinhardtii* as a sustainable oxygen generator.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 3D bioprinting to create fugitive patterns encapsulating *Chlamydomonas reinhardtii* within an extracellular matrix.
• Assessed the impact of bioprinted algae on mammalian cell viability and reduction of hypoxic conditions.
• Enzymatically removed algae-laden patterns to form perfusable microchannels for subsequent endothelialization.

Main Results:

• Bioprinted *C. reinhardtii* significantly enhanced mammalian cell viability and functionality.
• Reduced hypoxic conditions within the engineered tissue constructs.
• Successfully created vascularized mammalian tissue constructs through microchannel endothelialization.

Conclusions:

• Photosynthetic oxygen generation by *C. reinhardtii* is a feasible and effective strategy for improving engineered tissues.
• The developed fugitive bioink system is printable, enzymatically degradable, and supports co-culture with human cells.
• This eco-friendly approach holds promise for advancing tissue engineering, tissue models, and potentially food production.