Most tissues are composed of multiple cell types organized in the three-dimensional (3D) arrangement required for intercellular communication and function. In vitro fabrication of living tissue involves recapitulating this complex cellular structure, which is difficult to do in a controlled manner. To fully realize artificial, cell-laden biological models in tissue engineering, such as 3D organoids and organ-on-a-chip systems, cells need to be patterned so that they can accurately mimic natural microenvironments in vitro. Despite the growing interest in this field, cell patterning at multiple scales (~10 μm to 10 mm) remains a major challenge in bioengineering.

Bioprinting is an emerging technology for making living tissue that allows cells to be arranged in a predetermined 3D architecture. Recent developments in cell printing technology and 3D cell culture technology have matured simple tissue in printed cell structures, which is the 3D organization of one or more types of cells. Artificial tissues with physiological morphology and complexity have been used in surgical implantation, toxicology and tumor models.

Fig.1 3D printing of cellular constructs.

Our 3D Bioprinting

Creative Bioarray offers a variety of bioprinting platforms, including extrusion-based bioprinting, inkjet-based bioprinting, and laser-based bioprinting. We deposit continuous filaments of cell-laden hydrogels or cell spheroids onto substrates in a layer-by-layer fashion through extrusion-based bioprinting, allowing the creation of a range of simple tissue or cellular structures, including cartilage, bone, muscle , adipose tissue, 3D blood vessels and aortic valve. Our extrusion-based printer can rapidly fabricate large structures or complex cell-free structures such as branched tubular networks in granular gels. Compared with inkjet bioprinting and extrusion-based bioprinting, laser-based bioprinting is nozzleless, which makes it an effective tool that can adapt to the viscosity of the bioink while increasing cell viability. Therefore, our precise tuning of the laser source and bioink can provide higher resolution for reconstruction of transplantable tissue.

In addition, we offer hybrid cell printing techniques, where extrusion, for example, can supplement the electric field to reduce damage to deposited cells caused by shear stress within the dispensing nozzle, especially at high gas pressures. We can also create cellularized structures with acellular elements, such as structural frameworks or perfusable microchannels, by the technique of two tandem distribution methods. We aim to provide high-resolution patterning methods to help you create complex cellular structures.

Our Advantages

• Reproducible printing of 3D constructs with high cell viability at tissue-relevant cell densities
• Printing cells and liquid materials at cellular or pico-scale resolution
• Complex channels for multiscale cell patterning
• Fabrication of various scaffold structures, such as biomimetic tree-like structures and capillary networks

Related Services

• Cell Patterning for In Vitro Models
• 3D Cell Patterning
• Patterned Co-cultures

References:

1. Graham AD, et al. High-Resolution Patterned Cellular Constructs by Droplet-Based 3D Printing. Sci Rep. 2017, 7(1):7004.
2. Devillard R, et al. Cell patterning by laser-assisted bioprinting. Methods Cell Biol. 2014, 119:159-174.