On-Chip Fabrication and In-Flow 3D-Printing of Cell-Laden Microgel Constructs: From Chip to Scaffold Materials in One Integral Process

Bioprinting has evolved into a thriving technology for the fabrication of cell-laden scaffolds. Bioinks are the most critical component for bioprinting. Recently, microgels have been introduced as a very promising bioink enabling cell protection and the control of the cellular microenvironment. However, their microfluidic fabrication inherently seemed to be a limitation. Here we introduce a direct coupling of microfluidics and 3D-printing for the microfluidic production of cell-laden microgels with direct in-flow bioprinting into stable scaffolds. The methodology enables the continuous on-chip encapsulation of cells into monodisperse microdroplets with subsequent in-flow cross-linking to produce cell-laden microgels, which after exiting a microtubing are automatically jammed into thin continuous microgel filaments. The integration into a 3D printhead allows direct in-flow printing of the filaments into free-standing three-dimensional scaffolds. The method is demonstrated for different cross-linking methods and cell lines. With this advancement, microfluidics is no longer a bottleneck for biofabrication. <br>

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Current Progress in Cross-Linked Peptide Self-Assemblies

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21207577 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (20) ◽

pp. 7577

Author(s):

Noriyuki Uchida ◽

Takahiro Muraoka

Keyword(s):

Self Assembly ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Cross Linking ◽

Physical And Chemical Properties ◽

Cell Scaffold ◽

Scaffold Materials ◽

Physical And Chemical ◽

And Chemical Properties

Peptide-based fibrous supramolecular assemblies represent an emerging class of biomaterials that can realize various bioactivities and structures. Recently, a variety of peptide fibers with attractive functions have been designed together with the discovery of many peptide-based self-assembly units. Cross-linking of the peptide fibers is a key strategy to improve the functions of these materials. The cross-linking of peptide fibers forming three-dimensional networks in a dispersion can lead to changes in physical and chemical properties. Hydrogelation is a typical change caused by cross-linking, which makes it applicable to biomaterials such as cell scaffold materials. Cross-linking methods, which have been conventionally developed using water-soluble covalent polymers, are also useful in supramolecular peptide fibers. In the case of peptide fibers, unique cross-linking strategies can be designed by taking advantage of the functions of amino acids. This review focuses on the current progress in the design of cross-linked peptide fibers and their applications.

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Quick liquid packaging: Encasing water silhouettes by three-dimensional polymer membranes

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aat5189 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

pp. eaat5189 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sara Coppola ◽

Giuseppe Nasti ◽

Veronica Vespini ◽

Laura Mecozzi ◽

Rachele Castaldo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Surface ◽

Liquid Core ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Polymer Membranes ◽

Industrial Processes ◽

Free Standing ◽

Biocompatible Polymer ◽

Self Assembling ◽

Custom Made ◽

On Chip

One of the most important substances on Earth is water. It is an essential medium for living microorganisms and for many technological and industrial processes. Confining water in an enclosed compartment without manipulating it or by using rigid containers can be very attractive, even more if the container is biocompatible and biodegradable. Here, we propose a water-based bottom-up approach for facile encasing of short-lived water silhouettes by a custom-made adaptive suit. A biocompatible polymer self-assembling with unprecedented degree of freedom over the water surface directly produces a thin membrane. The polymer film could be the external container of a liquid core or a free-standing layer with personalized design. The membranes produced have been characterized in terms of physical properties, morphology and proposed for various applications from nano- to macroscale. The process appears not to harm cells and microorganisms, opening the way to a breakthrough approach for organ-on-chip and lab-in-a-drop experiments.

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On-Chip Fabrication, Manipulation and Self-Assembly for Three-Dimensional Cell Structures

Hyper Bio Assembler for 3D Cellular Systems ◽

10.1007/978-4-431-55297-0_9 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 151-176

Author(s):

Toshio Fukuda ◽

Tao Yue ◽

Masaru Takeuchi ◽

Masahiro Nakajima

Keyword(s):

Self Assembly ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Cell Structures ◽

Chip Fabrication ◽

On Chip ◽

Dimensional Cell

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Biofabrication using maize protein: 3D printing using zein formulations

10.1101/2020.07.29.227744 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jorge Alfonso Tavares-Negrete ◽

Alberto Emanuel Aceves-Colin ◽

Delia Cristal Rivera-Flores ◽

Gladys Guadalupe Díaz-Armas ◽

Anne-Sophie Mertgen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Apparent Viscosity ◽

Biomedical Applications ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Controlled Drug Release ◽

Free Standing ◽

Maize Seeds ◽

Maize Protein ◽

Protein Matrices ◽

Printing Parameters

AbstractThe use of three-dimensional (3D) printing for biomedical applications has expanded exponentially in recent years. However, the current portfolio of 3D printable inks is still limited. For instance, only a few protein matrices have been explored as printing/bioprinting materials. Here, we introduce the use of zein, the primary constitutive protein in maize seeds, as a 3D-printable material. Zein-based inks were prepared by dissolving commercial zein powder in ethanol with or without polyethylene glycol (PEG400) as a plasticizer. The rheological characteristics of our materials, studied during 21 days of aging/maturation, showed an increase in the apparent viscosity as a function of time in all formulations. The addition of PEG 400 decreased the apparent viscosity. Inks with and without PEG400 and at different maturation times were tested for printability in a BioX bioprinter. We optimized the 3D printing parameters for each ink formulation in terms of extrusion pressure and linear printing velocity. Higher fidelity structures were obtained with inks that had maturation times of 10 to 14 days. We present different proof-of-concept experiments to demonstrate the versatility of the engineered zein inks for diverse biomedical applications. These include printing of complex and/or free-standing 3D structures, materials for controlled drug release, and scaffolds for cell culture.

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Evaluating fabrication feasibility and biomedical application potential of in situ 3D printing technology

Rapid Prototyping Journal ◽

10.1108/rpj-07-2015-0090 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 947-955 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Yigong Liu ◽

Qudus Hamid ◽

Jessica Snyder ◽

Chengyang Wang ◽

Wei Sun

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Structural Stability ◽

Structural Integrity ◽

Biomedical Application ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Travel Speed ◽

Cross Linking ◽

Content Type ◽

Fabrication Parameters

Purpose This paper aims to present a solid freeform fabrication-based in situ three-dimensional (3D) printing method. This method enables simultaneous cross-linking alginate at ambient environmental conditions (temperature and pressure) for 3D-laden construct fabrication. The fabrication feasibility and potentials in biomedical applications were evaluated. Design/methodology/approach Fabrication feasibility was evaluated as the investigation of fabrication parameters on strut formability (the capability to fabricate a cylindrical strut in the same diameter as dispensing tip) and structural stability (the capability to hold the fabricated 3D-laden construct against mechanical disturbance). Potentials in biomedical application was evaluated as the investigation on structural integrity (the capability to preserve the fabricated 3D-laden construct in cell culture condition). Findings Strut formability can be achieved when the flow rate of alginate suspension and nozzle travel speed are set according to the dispensing tip size, and extruded alginate was cross-linked sufficiently. A range of cross-linking-related fabrication parameters was determined for sufficient cross-link. The structural stability and structural integrity were found to be controlled by alginate composition. An optimized setting of the alginate composition and the fabrication parameters was determined for the fabrication of a desired stable scaffold with structural integrity for 14 days. Originality/value This paper reports that in situ 3D printing is an efficient method for 3D-laden construct fabrication and its potentials in biomedical application.

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Fabrication of Free-Standing Three-Dimensional Structures By Atomic Layer 3D Printing

ECS Meeting Abstracts ◽

10.1149/ma2021-0229870mtgabs ◽

2021 ◽

Vol MA2021-02 (29) ◽

pp. 870-870

Author(s):

Maissa K. S. Barr ◽

Philipp Wiesner ◽

Ivan Kundrata ◽

Sarah Tymek ◽

Maksym Plakhotnyuk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Atomic Layer ◽

Free Standing

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Femtosecond Laser-Based Integration of Nano-Membranes into Organ-on-a-Chip Systems

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma13143076 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 3076

Author(s):

Liubov Bakhchova ◽

Linas Jonušauskas ◽

Dovilė Andrijec ◽

Marharyta Kurachkina ◽

Tomas Baravykas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Three Dimensional ◽

Layer By Layer ◽

Channel System ◽

Living Body ◽

Laser Lithography ◽

Functional Part ◽

Chip Fabrication ◽

Organ On A Chip ◽

On Chip

Organ-on-a-chip devices are gaining popularity in medical research due to the possibility of performing extremely complex living-body-resembling research in vitro. For this reason, there is a substantial drive in developing technologies capable of producing such structures in a simple and, at the same time, flexible manner. One of the primary challenges in producing organ-on-chip devices from a manufacturing standpoint is the prevalence of layer-by-layer bonding techniques, which result in limitations relating to the applicable materials and geometries and limited repeatability. In this work, we present an improved approach, using three dimensional (3D) laser lithography for the direct integration of a functional part—the membrane—into a closed-channel system. We show that it allows the freely choice of the geometry of the membrane and its integration into a complete organ-on-a-chip system. Considerations relating to sample preparation, the writing process, and the final preparation for operation are given. Overall, we consider that the broader application of 3D laser lithography in organ-on-a-chip fabrication is the next logical step in this field’s evolution.

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Micro-Topography Enhances Directional Myogenic Differentiation of Skeletal Precursor Cells

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-1052-dd03-27 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 1052 ◽

Author(s):

Yi Zhao

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Myogenic Differentiation ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Skeletal Myoblasts ◽

Aspect Ratios ◽

Cell Proliferation And Differentiation ◽

Muscle Tissues ◽

Chip Fabrication ◽

On Chip

AbstractSkeletal muscle tissues were constructed using an in vitro model, by differentiating skeletal myoblasts using an array of linear microstructures with the medium aspect ratios. The adaptation of skeletal myoblasts has been characterized with immunoflurescence microscopy during cell proliferation and differentiation. In particular, the dependence of the alignment efficiency on the dimensions of the microstructures was studied. The morphology difference of the myotubes in the three-dimensional tissues was reported. This paper holds the promise of efficient on-chip fabrication of skeletal muscle tissues and has an important implication in direct muscle repair and muscular mechanics.

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