Bioprinting is used extensively to fabricate tissue engineering platforms and develop tissue models in the laboratory. Material scientists use this method to build complex 3D structures based on different polymers and hydrogels. However, long fabrication duration and low resolution can result in limited procedures for cell-based applications.
A new report published in Nature Asia Materials presents a 3D hybrid-micromesh assisted bioprinting technique to join light projection and 3D printed micromesh scaffold structures with sequential hydrogel creation of patterns.
The new technique of bioprinting provides cell co-culture via a number of methods, which includes injection, dipping, and draining. The work can assist the fabrication of mesoscale complex 3D hydrogel shapes running from 2D microfluidic conduits to 3D channel conduits.
A team of scientists of mechanical engineering at Seoul National University have stipulated the design rules for Hy-MAP printing via analytical and experimental examinations. The new technique can offer an alternative method to create mesoscale implantable tissue engineering prosthetics for organ-on-a-chip applications.
Meanwhile, using soft lithography-guided microfluidic platforms, bioengineers can create pattern of multiple cell types for tissue engineering and organ-on-a-chip tools. The theory of capillary burst valve has resulted into active research on microfluidic cell culture platforms using a thing known as liquid pinning. The method involves maintain liquid in the microstructure via capillary burst pressure to create a liquid of predesigned shape.
In fact, the technique of patterning of liquid by capillary burst valve is comprehended via surface hydrophilicity alteration. This is to develop micropost shapes in microfluidic channels to carry liquid and hydrogel cells for obstruction-free co-culture. Due to 2D pattern of the devices that are difficult to be fabricated using conventional soft lithography, scientists have included patterning cells in 3D via 3D printing methods.