Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
12:03
Microfluidic Genipin Deposition Technique for Extended Culture of Micropatterned Vascular Muscular Thin Films
Published on: June 26, 2015
Template-Enabled Biofabrication of Thick 3D Tissues with Patterned Perfusable Macrochannels
Elham Davoodi1,2,3,4, Hossein Montazerian2,3,4, Masoud Zhianmanesh5
1Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Department, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|December 30, 2021
Summary
Economical 3D printing creates intricate gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel scaffolds with interconnected pathways. This biofabrication method supports high cell viability and promotes superior cell ingrowth for functional 3D tissue engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- 3D Bioprinting
Background:
- Interconnected pathways are crucial for cell activity in thick 3D tissues.
- Current 3D bioprinting methods are costly and limited to thin tissues due to poor control over low-viscosity bioinks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an economical and precise method for fabricating cell-laden hydrogel scaffolds with complex, interconnected pathways.
- To enhance cell viability and promote cell ingrowth in engineered 3D tissue constructs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized extrusion 3D printed plastic templates with triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) to create sacrificial gelatin templates.
- Patterned cell-encapsulated gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel scaffolds using these templates.
- Employed prepolymer casting for high cell population incorporation and photo-crosslinking for scaffold stabilization.
Main Results:
- Successfully constructed GelMA hydrogel scaffolds with complex, interconnected pathways.
- Achieved high cell viability and robust mechanical properties in the hydrogel constructs.
- Demonstrated superior cell ingrowth into the permeable scaffolds compared to bulk hydrogels in vivo.
Conclusions:
- The proposed fabrication process enables the creation of perfusable, interconnected networks within cell-encapsulated hydrogels.
- This approach facilitates the engineering of thick, functional tissue constructs by supporting efficient cellular activities through internal channels.
- Offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative for advanced tissue engineering applications.
