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3D Bioprinted Renal Constructs Using Kidney-Specific ECM Bioink System on Kidney Regeneration
Gabriel Carreno-Caleano1, Mohamed Ali1,2, James J Yoo1
1Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|June 27, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a kidney-specific bioink from decellularized extracellular matrix (kdECMMA) for 3D bioprinting. This innovative bioink supports renal cell growth and maturation, showing promise for regenerating damaged kidneys.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- End-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) is irreversible, with limited treatment options like dialysis and transplantation.
- 3D bioprinting offers a potential strategy for engineering functional renal constructs to repair kidney damage.
- Developing a kidney-specific bioink is crucial for supporting renal cell organization, maturation, and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To utilize a kidney-derived decellularized extracellular matrix bioink (kdECMMA) for renal tissue bioprinting.
- To assess the printability, structural integrity, and biological characteristics of the kdECMMA bioink.
- To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo feasibility of kdECMMA-based bioprinted renal constructs for kidney regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Preparation and characterization of a kidney-derived decellularized extracellular matrix bioink (kdECMMA).
- Encapsulation of human kidney cells within kdECMMA for 3D bioprinting of renal constructs.
- In vitro assessment of cell viability and maturation within bioprinted constructs.
- In vivo implantation of bioprinted constructs into nude rats to evaluate renal tissue formation and integration.
Main Results:
- The kdECMMA bioink demonstrated excellent printability, structural integrity, and biological properties.
- Encapsulated human kidney cells showed high viability and progressive maturation within the bioprinted constructs.
- Implanted constructs exhibited newly formed glomerular- and tubular-like structures with integrated human cells.
- Cell-free kdECMMA constructs also promoted renal tissue formation, suggesting host progenitor cell recruitment.
Conclusions:
- Kidney-derived decellularized extracellular matrix bioink (kdECMMA) is a viable material for renal tissue bioprinting.
- kdECMMA supports human renal cell viability, maturation, and in vivo tissue regeneration.
- This approach holds significant potential for engineering kidney-specific microenvironments to promote renal regeneration.
