Human cartilage tissue fabrication using three-dimensional inkjet printing technology.

Bioprinting, which is based on thermal inkjet printing, is one of the most attractive enabling technologies in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. With digital control cells, scaffolds, and growth factors can be precisely deposited to the desired two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) locations rapidly. Therefore, this technology is an ideal approach to fabricate tissues mimicking their native anatomic structures. In order to engineer cartilage with native zonal organization, extracellular matrix composition (ECM), and mechanical properties, we developed a bioprinting platform using a commercial inkjet printer with simultaneous photopolymerization capable for 3D cartilage tissue engineering. Human chondrocytes suspended in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) were printed for 3D neocartilage construction via layer-by-layer assembly. The printed cells were fixed at their original deposited positions, supported by the surrounding scaffold in simultaneous photopolymerization. The mechanical properties of the printed tissue were similar to the native cartilage. Compared to conventional tissue fabrication, which requires longer UV exposure, the viability of the printed cells with simultaneous photopolymerization was significantly higher. Printed neocartilage demonstrated excellent glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen type II production, which was consistent with gene expression. Therefore, this platform is ideal for accurate cell distribution and arrangement for anatomic tissue engineering.

[1]  D. D’Lima,et al.  Direct human cartilage repair using three-dimensional bioprinting technology. , 2012, Tissue engineering. Part A.

[2]  J. Elisseeff,et al.  Experimental model for cartilage tissue engineering to regenerate the zonal organization of articular cartilage. , 2003, Osteoarthritis and cartilage.

[3]  Hod Lipson,et al.  Additive manufacturing for in situ repair of osteochondral defects , 2010, Biofabrication.

[4]  Xiaofeng Cui,et al.  Thermal inkjet printing in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. , 2012, Recent patents on drug delivery & formulation.

[5]  Guifang Gao,et al.  Accelerated myotube formation using bioprinting technology for biosensor applications , 2012, Biotechnology Letters.

[6]  Kam Leong,et al.  Designing zonal organization into tissue-engineered cartilage. , 2006, Tissue engineering.

[7]  D. D’Lima,et al.  Structured three‐dimensional co‐culture of mesenchymal stem cells with meniscus cells promotes meniscal phenotype without hypertrophy , 2012, Biotechnology and bioengineering.

[8]  S. Bryant,et al.  Hydrogel properties influence ECM production by chondrocytes photoencapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels. , 2002, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[9]  T. Boland,et al.  Human microvasculature fabrication using thermal inkjet printing technology. , 2009, Biomaterials.

[10]  T. Boland,et al.  Cell damage evaluation of thermal inkjet printed Chinese hamster ovary cells , 2010, Biotechnology and bioengineering.

[11]  T. Boland,et al.  Simultaneous Deposition of Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells and Biomaterials for Human Microvasculature Fabrication Using Inkjet Printing , 2008, NIP & Digital Fabrication Conference.

[12]  J. Elisseeff,et al.  Photoencapsulation of chondrocytes in poly(ethylene oxide)-based semi-interpenetrating networks. , 2000, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[13]  Xiaofeng Cui,et al.  Synergistic action of fibroblast growth factor‐2 and transforming growth factor‐beta1 enhances bioprinted human neocartilage formation , 2012, Biotechnology and bioengineering.

[14]  D. D’Lima,et al.  92 DIRECT HUMAN CARTILAGE REPAIR USING THERMAL INKJET PRINTING TECHNOLOGY , 2011 .