One-Step Coordinated Multi-Kinetic 4D Printing of Human Vascularized Cardiac Tissues with Selective Fast-Shrinking...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• 3D bioprinting advances tissue fabrication but struggles with microscale vascular network resolution.
• Limited resolution of cell-laden bioink hydrogels hinders precise capillary formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel sequential, one-step bioprinting approach for fabricating complex cardiac tissues with hierarchical microvasculature.
• To overcome the resolution limitations in creating capillary-scale structures within engineered tissues.

Main Methods:

• A sequential, one-step bioprinting strategy was employed to deposit multiple cell-laden bioinks.
• The method facilitates the fabrication of functional cardiac tissues with engineered microvasculature.
• Engineered tissues were assessed for vascular network perfusability, endothelialization, and contractile function.

Main Results:

• The novel approach successfully fabricated complex cardiac tissues with hierarchical, perfusable, and endothelialized vascular networks.
• Pre-designed blood vessels selectively shrank to capillary dimensions under physiological conditions.
• In vivo implantation demonstrated successful vascular anastomosis with the host vasculature.

Conclusions:

• This bioprinting strategy significantly advances the engineering of physiologically relevant tissue architectures.
• The technique enables the development of functional organotypic constructs for regenerative medicine and transplantation.
• The precise formation of capillary-scale vasculature is crucial for engineered tissue viability and function.