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Updated: Jun 17, 2025
Author Spotlight: Automated Bioprinting for High-Throughput Vascular Model Fabrication
Published on: August 16, 2024
Coaxial bioprinting of a stentable and endothelialized human coronary artery-sized in vitro model
Ashfaq Ahmad1,2, Seon-Jin Kim3, Yun-Jin Jeong4
1Department of Convergence Biosystems Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea. hgyi@jnu.ac.kr.
Insights
Researchers developed a human-scale in vitro model for testing cardiovascular stents. This bioprinted artery model aims to improve smart stent development and preclinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of death, with current stent treatments facing challenges like restenosis.
- Smart stents require advanced preclinical models for real-time monitoring development.
- Existing in vitro models are not human-scale or compatible with cardiovascular stents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a human-scale in vitro model for cardiovascular stent testing.
- To develop a bioprinted model that mimics human coronary artery (HCA) dimensions and function.
- To establish a scalable and efficient platform for preclinical cardiovascular stent evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized in-bath bioprinting with a coaxial nozzle and collagen-based bioink.
- Fabricated a human coronary artery-sized tubular structure with precise dimensions.
- Developed a pumpless perfusion bioreactor for culturing the HCA model.
Main Results:
- Successfully bioprinted a human-scale, freestanding in vitro model of the HCA.
- Replicated HCA dimensions (internal diameter, wall thickness) and vascular barrier functionality.
- Demonstrated a scalable, pumpless bioreactor system for simplified post-processing.
Conclusions:
- The developed in vitro model is compatible with cardiovascular stents and mimics HCA structure.
- This novel model addresses the limitations of current preclinical testing methods.
- The model is expected to accelerate the development and validation of advanced smart stents.
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis accounts for two-thirds of deaths attributed to cardiovascular diseases, which continue to be the leading cause of mortality. Current clinical management strategies for atherosclerosis, such as angioplasty with stenting, face numerous challenges, including restenosis and late thrombosis. Smart stents, integrated with sensors that can monitor cardiovascular health in real-time, are being developed to overcome these limitations. This development necessitates rigorous preclinical trials on either animal models or in vitro models. Despite efforts being made, a suitable human-scale in vitro model compatible with a cardiovascular stent has remained elusive. To address this need, this study utilizes an in-bath bioprinting method to create a human-scale, freestanding in vitro model compatible with cardiovascular stents. Using a coaxial nozzle, a tubular structure of human coronary artery (HCA) size is bioprinted with a collagen-based bioink, ensuring good biocompatibility and suitable rheological properties for printing. We precisely replicated the dimensions of the HCA, including its internal diameter and wall thickness, and simulated the vascular barrier functionality. To simplify post-processing, a pumpless perfusion bioreactor is fabricated to culture a HCA-sized model, eliminating the need for a peristaltic pump and enabling scalability for high-throughput production. This model is expected to accelerate stent development in the future.
