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3D bioprinting of complex biological structures with tunable elastic modulus and porosity using freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels

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Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has been used widely for the construction of hard tissues such as bone and cartilage. However, constructing soft tissues with complex structures remains a challenge. In this study, complex structures characterized by both tunable elastic modulus and porosity were printed using freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESHs) printing methods. A mixture of alginate and gelatin was used as the main functional component of the bioink. Rheological analysis showed that this bioink possesses shear thinning and shear recovery properties, supporting both cryogenic and FRESH printing methods. Potential printing capabilities and limitations of cryogenic and FRESH printing were then analyzed by printability tests. A series of complex structures were printed by FRESH printing methods which could not be realized using conventional approaches. Mechanical tests and scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the printed structure is of excellent flexibility and could be applied in various conditions by adjusting its mechanical modulus and porosity. L929 fibroblast cells maintained cell viability in cell-laden-printed structures, and the addition of collagen further improved the hydrogels’ biocompatibility. Overall, all results provided useful insight into the building of human soft tissue organ blocks.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 52275464 and 52075300) and the Scientific Research Project for National High-Level Innovative Talents of Hebei Province Full-Time Introduction (No. 2021HBQZYCXY004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Advanced Jet Engineering Technology (CaJET), Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency and Clean Mechanical Manufacture (Ministry of Education), National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center for Mechanical Engineering (Shandong University), School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China

    Zhuang Chen, Hanlian Liu, Xu Han, Zhichao Wang, Shuying Li & Jun Huang

  2. School of Mechanical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China

    Chuanzhen Huang & Zhen Wang

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  1. Zhuang Chen
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  2. Chuanzhen Huang
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  3. Hanlian Liu
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  4. Xu Han
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Contributions

ZC participated in conceptualization, investigation, methodology, and writing of the original draft. CZH was involved in supervision, conceptualization, writing—review & editing, and funding acquisition. HLL was involved in methodology. XH, ZCW, and SYL contributed to writing—review & editing. JH and ZW contributed to supervision and writing—review & editing.

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Correspondence to Chuanzhen Huang.

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Conflict of interest

CZH is an Editorial Board Member of Bio-Design and Manufacturing. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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This study does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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The data generated in this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Chen, Z., Huang, C., Liu, H. et al. 3D bioprinting of complex biological structures with tunable elastic modulus and porosity using freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels. Bio-des. Manuf. 6, 550–562 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42242-023-00251-5

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