3D bioprinting of high-performance hydrogel with in-situ birth of stem cell spheroids

Digital light processing (DLP)-based bioprinting technology holds immense promise for the advancement of hydrogel constructs in biomedical applications. However, creating high-performance hydrogel constructs with this method is still a challenge, as it requires balancing the physicochemical properti...

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Main Authors: Shunyao Zhu, Xueyuan Liao, Yue Xu, Nazi Zhou, Yingzi Pan, Jinlin Song, Taijing Zheng, Lin Zhang, Liyun Bai, Yu Wang, Xia Zhou, Maling Gou, Jie Tao, Rui Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-01-01
Series:Bioactive Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X24004365
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author Shunyao Zhu
Xueyuan Liao
Yue Xu
Nazi Zhou
Yingzi Pan
Jinlin Song
Taijing Zheng
Lin Zhang
Liyun Bai
Yu Wang
Xia Zhou
Maling Gou
Jie Tao
Rui Liu
author_facet Shunyao Zhu
Xueyuan Liao
Yue Xu
Nazi Zhou
Yingzi Pan
Jinlin Song
Taijing Zheng
Lin Zhang
Liyun Bai
Yu Wang
Xia Zhou
Maling Gou
Jie Tao
Rui Liu
author_sort Shunyao Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Digital light processing (DLP)-based bioprinting technology holds immense promise for the advancement of hydrogel constructs in biomedical applications. However, creating high-performance hydrogel constructs with this method is still a challenge, as it requires balancing the physicochemical properties of the matrix while also retaining the cellular activity of the encapsulated cells. Herein, we propose a facile and practical strategy for the 3D bioprinting of high-performance hydrogel constructs through the in-situ birth of stem cell spheroids. The strategy is achieved by loading the cell/dextran microdroplets within gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) emulsion, where dextran functions as a decoy to capture and aggregate the cells for bioprinting while GelMA enables the mechanical support without losing the structural complexity and fidelity. Post-bioprinting, the leaching of dextran results in a smooth curved surface that promotes in-situ birth of spheroids within hydrogel constructs. This process significant enhances differentiation potential of encapsulated stem cells. As a proof-of-concept, we encapsulate dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) within hydrogel constructs, showcasing their regenerative capabilities in dentin and neovascular-like structures in vivo. The strategy in our study enables high-performance hydrogel tissue construct fabrication with DLP-based bioprinting, which is anticipated to pave a promising way for diverse biomedical applications.
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spelling doaj-art-c0565066ced449febe573c8a995d1b562025-08-20T02:33:06ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Bioactive Materials2452-199X2025-01-014339240510.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.09.0333D bioprinting of high-performance hydrogel with in-situ birth of stem cell spheroidsShunyao Zhu0Xueyuan Liao1Yue Xu2Nazi Zhou3Yingzi Pan4Jinlin Song5Taijing Zheng6Lin Zhang7Liyun Bai8Yu Wang9Xia Zhou10Maling Gou11Jie Tao12Rui Liu13Department of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, ChinaCollege of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China; State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China; Corresponding author.Department of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China; Corresponding author.Digital light processing (DLP)-based bioprinting technology holds immense promise for the advancement of hydrogel constructs in biomedical applications. However, creating high-performance hydrogel constructs with this method is still a challenge, as it requires balancing the physicochemical properties of the matrix while also retaining the cellular activity of the encapsulated cells. Herein, we propose a facile and practical strategy for the 3D bioprinting of high-performance hydrogel constructs through the in-situ birth of stem cell spheroids. The strategy is achieved by loading the cell/dextran microdroplets within gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) emulsion, where dextran functions as a decoy to capture and aggregate the cells for bioprinting while GelMA enables the mechanical support without losing the structural complexity and fidelity. Post-bioprinting, the leaching of dextran results in a smooth curved surface that promotes in-situ birth of spheroids within hydrogel constructs. This process significant enhances differentiation potential of encapsulated stem cells. As a proof-of-concept, we encapsulate dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) within hydrogel constructs, showcasing their regenerative capabilities in dentin and neovascular-like structures in vivo. The strategy in our study enables high-performance hydrogel tissue construct fabrication with DLP-based bioprinting, which is anticipated to pave a promising way for diverse biomedical applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X24004365Spheroid3D bioprintingCell-concentrated bioinkTissue engineering
spellingShingle Shunyao Zhu
Xueyuan Liao
Yue Xu
Nazi Zhou
Yingzi Pan
Jinlin Song
Taijing Zheng
Lin Zhang
Liyun Bai
Yu Wang
Xia Zhou
Maling Gou
Jie Tao
Rui Liu
3D bioprinting of high-performance hydrogel with in-situ birth of stem cell spheroids
Bioactive Materials
Spheroid
3D bioprinting
Cell-concentrated bioink
Tissue engineering
title 3D bioprinting of high-performance hydrogel with in-situ birth of stem cell spheroids
title_full 3D bioprinting of high-performance hydrogel with in-situ birth of stem cell spheroids
title_fullStr 3D bioprinting of high-performance hydrogel with in-situ birth of stem cell spheroids
title_full_unstemmed 3D bioprinting of high-performance hydrogel with in-situ birth of stem cell spheroids
title_short 3D bioprinting of high-performance hydrogel with in-situ birth of stem cell spheroids
title_sort 3d bioprinting of high performance hydrogel with in situ birth of stem cell spheroids
topic Spheroid
3D bioprinting
Cell-concentrated bioink
Tissue engineering
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X24004365
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