A research team at Carnegie Mellon University has introduced a new method for fabricating microphysiological systems entirely from biological materials such as collagen and living cells. The work is based on the FRESH 3D printing technology (Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels), which enables the bioprinting of soft, structure-forming proteins with high spatial resolution. The goal is to develop tissue models that more accurately reflect biological reality than current synthetic systems.
Until now, organ-like structures such as organ-on-a-chip models or microfluidic systems have typically been manufactured using silicone or plastic. While these materials support precise fabrication techniques, they are not biologically native and can negatively impact cellular function.
“Now, we can build microfluidic systems in the Petri dish entirely out of collagen, cells, and other proteins, with unprecedented structural resolution and fidelity,” explained Adam Feinberg, a professor of biomedical engineering and materials science & engineering at Carnegie Mellon. “Most importantly, these models are fully biologic, which means cells function better.”
“It is paramount for everyone to understand the importance of team-based science in developing these technologies and the value varied expertise brings both to the project, and our impact on society,” elaborated Feinberg.
In their current Science Advances publication, the team demonstrates the printing of complex, vascularized tissue structures, including a pancreas-like tissue. The long-term objective is the development of biological replacement tissues for treating chronic diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Notably, the researchers achieved the fabrication of fluidic channels with diameters under 100 micrometers—comparable to human capillaries.
“We’re hoping that very quickly, other labs in the world will adopt and expand this capability to other disease and tissue areas,” Feinberg added. “We see this as a base platform for building more complex and vascularized tissue systems.”
The technology is currently being further developed for clinical and industrial use by FluidForm Bio, a spin-off company. Feinberg emphasizes the importance of open platforms, noting that blueprints and printing parameters will be made openly available to encourage widespread use in the research community. The team views this as a starting point for advancing the development of complex biological tissue models.
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