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3D bioprinted rat Schwann cell-laden structures with shape flexibility and enhanced nerve growth factor expression

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Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting composite alginate–gelatin hydrogel has encouraged the fabrication of cell-laden functional structures with cells from various tissues. However, reports focusing on printing this hydrogel for nerve tissue research are limited. This study aims at building in vitro Schwann cell 3D microenvironment with customized shapes through 3D bioprinting technology. Rat Schwann cell RSC96s encapsulated in composite alginate–gelatin hydrogel were printed with an extrusion-based bioprinter. Cells maintained high viability of 85.35 ± 6.19% immediately after printing and the printed hydrogel supported long-term Schwann cell proliferation for 2 weeks. Furthermore, after 14 days of culturing, Schwann cells cultured in printed structures maintained viability of 92.34 ± 2.19% and showed enhanced capability of nerve growth factor (NGF) release (142.41 ± 8.99 pg/ml) compared with cells from two-dimensional culture (92.27 ± 9.30 pg/ml). Specific Schwann cell marker S100β was also expressed by cells in printed structures. These printed structures may have the potential to be used as in vitro neurotrophic factor carriers and could be integrated into complex biomimetic artificial structures with the assistance of 3D bioprinting technology.

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Acknowledgements

This work is partly supported by the following programs: Chinese army open Grant (No. BWS17J036); China Shenzhen Peacock Plan Project (No. KQTD201209); and ‘Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems’ Overseas Expertise Introduction Center for Discipline Innovation (No. G2017002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People’s Republic of China

    Xinda Li, Xinzhi Zhang & Tao Xu

  2. Biomanufacturing Engineering Research Laboratory, Graduate School at Shenzhen Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People’s Republic of China

    Xiong Wang & Tao Xu

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, People’s Republic of China

    Xuanzhi Wang

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, 710032, People’s Republic of China

    Hongqing Chen

  5. Medprin Biotech GmbH, Gutleutstr 163-167, 60327, Frankfurt, Germany

    Xinzhi Zhang

  6. Department of Stomatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China

    Lian Zhou

  7. Department of Precision Medicine and Healthcare, Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen, 518055, People’s Republic of China

    Tao Xu

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  1. Xinda Li
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  2. Xiong Wang
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  3. Xuanzhi Wang
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  4. Hongqing Chen
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  5. Xinzhi Zhang
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  6. Lian Zhou
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  7. Tao Xu
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Correspondence to Lian Zhou or Tao Xu.

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Li, X., Wang, X., Wang, X. et al. 3D bioprinted rat Schwann cell-laden structures with shape flexibility and enhanced nerve growth factor expression. 3 Biotech 8, 342 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-018-1341-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-018-1341-9

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