Fabrication of Engineered Vascular Flaps Using 3D Printing Technologies.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Engineering functional, thick tissues requires hierarchical vascular networks.
• 3D bioprinting offers advanced capabilities for creating intricate vascular structures.
• Granular hydrogel advancements enable high-resolution bioink extrusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a combined 3D bioprinting and sacrificial molding technique for fabricating engineered vascularized tissue flaps.
• To create a hierarchical vascular network within engineered tissue flaps.
• To assess the in vivo functionality of the engineered vascularized tissue flaps.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 3D bioprinting with recombinant collagen-methacrylate bioink and gelatin support bath to create capillary networks.
• Fabricated a mesoscale vessel-like scaffold using a sacrificial 3D printed mold.
• Assembled microvasculature around the scaffold and induced anastomosis for a hierarchical network.
• Surgically implanted the engineered flap via anastomosis to a rat femoral artery.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated a hierarchical vascular network within an engineered tissue flap.
• Demonstrated anastomosis between the printed microvasculature and the mesoscale vessel.
• The engineered flap was successfully implanted and vascularized in vivo.

Conclusions:

• The combined 3D bioprinting and sacrificial molding approach is effective for creating vascularized tissue flaps.
• This method establishes a functional hierarchical vascular network.
• The technique holds promise for applications in reconstructive surgery and vascularization studies.