A research team from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) has developed an additive manufacturing process that opens up new possibilities in tissue engineering. In the journal Small, the group describes a method that enables the controlled design of three-dimensional cell structures within microgel components. The technology is based on a light-controlled 3D printing approach for forming hydrogels in which living cells are embedded.
By specifically modifying the optical properties during the printing process, the scientists were able to influence the internal architecture of the microgels. This makes it possible to specifically control the behavior of the embedded cells in the three-dimensional matrix – a key criterion for replicating functional tissue structures.
“Our technique enables the production of microtissue with precise structural control, which is essential for engineering tissues such as muscle, and retina,” said Dr. Johnson John, the study’s principal investigator. “We’re enabling a new class of modular biomaterials that can actively guide tissue formation and engineering organ through the bottom-up approach.”
The possible applications range from injectable muscle tissue and retina-like cell layers to the promotion of new blood vessel formation. Photoreceptive cells within the gels were able to form independently organized layers, similar to the outer retina. In addition, angiogenic peptides were integrated, which induced capillary formation in vitro and in vivo. The injectable microgels retain their structure and support cell growth and tissue integration.
“This work represents a significant step toward creating structures that can form functional tissues” said Dr. Ali Khademhosseini, CEO of TIBI. “By merging light-based fabrication with smart biomaterials, we are getting closer to making personalized, minimally invasive therapies.”
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