3D Bioplotter Research Papers

Three-dimensional (3D) printing incorporated with controlled delivery is an effective tool for complex tissue regeneration. Here, we explored a new strategy for spatiotemporal delivery of bioactive cues by establishing a precise-controlled micro-thin coating of hydrogel carriers on 3D-printed scaffolds. We optimized the printing parameters for three hydrogel carriers, fibrin cross-linked with genipin, methacrylate hyaluronic acid, and multidomain peptides, resulting in homogenous micro-coating on desired locations in 3D printed polycaprolactone microfibers at each layer. Using the optimized multi-head printing technique, we successfully established spatial-controlled micro-thin coating of hydrogel layers containing profibrogenic small molecules (SMs), Oxotremorine M and PPBP maleate, and a…

Cartilage tissue engineering (CTE) with the help of engineered constructs has shown promise for the regeneration of hyaline cartilage, where fibrocartilage may also be formed due to the biomechanical loading resulting from the host weight and movement. Previous studies have primarily reported on hyaline cartilage formation in vitro and/or in small animals, while leaving the fibrocartilage formation undiscovered. In this paper, we, at the first time, present a comparison study on hyaline cartilage versus fibrocartilage formation in a large animal model of pig by using two constructs (namely hydrogel and hybrid ones) engineered by means of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting. Both…

The conventional approach for diagnosing high risk metabolic disorders, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), involves drawing a blood sample, which necessitates access to a centralized facility, making it undesirable for frequent urea monitoring. Alternative biological fluids, such as saliva, have demonstrated potential as non-invasive mediums for CKD monitoring due to the strong correlation between blood urea and salivary urea levels, indicating their suitability for point-of-care test kits. In this study, we present an innovative chemiresistive paper-based enzymatic sensor that utilizes a combination of urease and polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) to measure urea. This sensor detects urea over a broad concentration…

Developing cost-effective and scalable multi-material bioprinting technologies that combine multiple cell types is crucial to produce biomimetic, complex human tissue substitutes and overcome the scarcity of transplantable tissues. These technological developments can revolutionize the treatment of several conditions currently dependent on donor tissues, such as corneal blindness. Here, corneal structures consisting of two layers, stroma and epithelium, were manufactured by extrusion-based 3D bioprinting. To take steps towards clinical translation of bioprinting, three clinically compatible hyaluronic acid based bioinks were combined with human adipose tissue and induced pluripotent stem cell derived cell types. Each of the three bioinks was customized to…

Each year, 1 in every 700 babies is born with an orofacial cleft in the USA. Despite a well-established protocol for early cleft repair, the alveolar cleft persists during craniofacial growth. Current surgical treatments with bone grafts for alveolar cleft often provide inadequate nasal base support and insufficient alveolar bone volume for permanent tooth eruption. Here, we developed 3-dimensionally printed polycaprolactone scaffolds with controlled delivery of icariin (ICA) to facilitate bone reconstruction. After establishing a reliable fabrication process, we determined the optimal loading dose and release kinetics of ICA for induced osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells and…

Nano-reinforcement plays a crucial role in enhancing the mechanical properties, printability, and structural integrity of hydrogels for scaffold fabrication. This study explores the potential of TEMPO-oxidized nanocellulose (TONCs) derived from coffee parchment as a reinforcing agent in sodium alginate hydrogels for extrusion-based 3D printing of biphasic osteochondral scaffolds. TONCs were synthesized via TEMPO-mediated oxidation using sodium hypochlorite at 5, 10, 15, and 20 mmol/g, yielding cellulose nanofibers (TOCNFs: TONC-5, TONC-10) and cellulose nanocrystals (TOCNCs: TONC-15, TONC-20). Rheological analysis revealed that TONC-10-reinforced hydrogels exhibited the highest yield stress (75.2 Pa), consistency coefficient (323.8 Pa sⁿ), and printability index (0.929), attributed to…

The construction of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro lung tissue models mimicking the physiological structure of the native lung poses a huge challenge in tissue engineering. While advances in bioprinting technology has made fabrication of 3D lung models feasible, the bioinks and printed constructs often fall short in achieving desired mechanical and biological properties. Toward this, we aimed to develop a novel bioink and use it to print and characterize in vitro 3D lung models with living cells. We generated porcine lung extracellular matrix (LdECM) which was then strategically combined with other hydrogels – alginate, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and collagen, to synthesize…

Treatment of critical-sized bone defects remains challenging despite bone’s regenerative capacity. Herein, a combination of a biodegradable polymer possessing bone-bonding properties with bioactive β-tricalcium phosphate (βTCP) particles coated with osteogenic (Zinc) and angiogenic (copper or cobalt) ions has been proposed. βTCP was coated with zinc and copper (Zn/Cu) or zinc and cobalt (Zn/Co) using 15 mM (low) or 45 mM (high) metallic ion solutions. Composites were obtained by a combination of the βTCP with poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) copolymer in a 50:50 ratio. Composites were additively manufactured into 3D porous scaffolds and their osteogenic and angiogenic properties evaluated using a direct…

3D printing has transformed scaffold production by enabling customizable, reproducible structures essential for effective bone tissue engineering. Therefore, the aim of this study was to obtain a series of 3D-printed structures consisting of bioglass (BG), whose bioactive properties support direct bonding with bone via a hydroxyapatite layer, and iron disulfide (FeS2), used in traditional Chinese medicine for promoting bone tissue formation, fracture healing, and pain alleviation. The BG 47S6 was obtained through the sol-gel method, while the iron disulfide nanoparticles were produced via a microwave-assisted solvothermal treatment. The powders were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman…

Addressing critical-sized bone defects poses significant challenges due to the limitations of natural bone regeneration and conventional treatments like tissue transplantation. Bone tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting offer promising solutions by creating customized, biomimetic scaffolds. This study explores the innovative use of UiO-66 metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocrystals to enhance the osteoinductive and osteogenic properties of 3D bioprinted scaffolds. UiO-66 nanocrystals were synthesized and characterized, demonstrating uniform morphology and highly crystalline structure. These nanocrystals were then incorporated into alginate/methyl cellulose (AL/MC) hydrogel at various concentrations and print parameters were optimized based on physicochemical properties. AL/MC/UiO-66 optimized under specific conditions was then…