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Engineering Human Neural Tissue by 3D Bioprinting

Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB,volume 1758)

Abstract

Bioprinting provides an opportunity to produce three-dimensional (3D) tissues for biomedical research and translational drug discovery, toxicology, and tissue replacement. Here we describe a method for fabricating human neural tissue by 3D printing human neural stem cells with a bioink, and subsequent gelation of the bioink for cell encapsulation, support, and differentiation to functional neurons and supporting neuroglia. The bioink uniquely comprises the polysaccharides alginate, water-soluble carboxymethyl-chitosan, and agarose. Importantly, the method could be adapted to fabricate neural and nonneural tissues from other cell types, with the potential to be applied for both research and clinical product development.

Key words

  • 3D bioprinting
  • Bioink
  • Gel
  • Stem cells
  • Human neural tissue
  • Cell encapsulation

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence Scheme (CE140100012). Professor Gordon Wallace acknowledges the support of the ARC through an ARC Laureate Fellowship (FL110100196).

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Correspondence to Jeremy M. Crook .

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Gu, Q., Tomaskovic-Crook, E., Wallace, G.G., Crook, J.M. (2018). Engineering Human Neural Tissue by 3D Bioprinting. In: Chawla, K. (eds) Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1758. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7741-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7741-3_10

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7739-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7741-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols