The researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, the University of Manchester and Delft University of Technology overcame the limitations of conventional bio-printing systems.

They explained that it can convert a six-degree-of-freedom robotic arm into a bioprinter, thus enabling cell printing on 3D complex-shaped vascular scaffolds from all directions.

The research article, recently published in the international peer-reviewed journal, Bioactive Materials, stated that several layers of cells were printed on the scaffold and were co-cultured for a period of time to induce the formation of functional intercellular junctions and new capillaries between the printed cells.

Thereafter, a new round of cell printing was carried out.

The process, they explained, can form a vascular network similar to the internal organs and support the long-term survival of the printed tissue and organs.

The researchers also developed an oil bath-based cell printing method to better preserve the natural functions of cells after printing.

Together with a self-designed bioreactor and a repeated print-and-culture strategy, the bioprinting system is capable of generating vascularised, contractible, and long-term survived cardiac tissues.

Such bioprinting strategy mimics the in vivo organ development process and presents a promising solution for in vitro fabrication of complex organs, according to the research article.

Source: HealthWise