Organ Printing as an Information Technology

Organ printing is defined as a layer by layer additive robotic computer-aided biofabrication of functional 3D organ constructs with using self-assembling tissue spheroids according to digital model. Information technology and computer-aided design softwares are instrumental in the transformation of virtual 3D bioimaging information about human tissue and organs into living biological reality during 3D bioprinting. Information technology enables design blueprints for bioprinting of human organs as well as predictive computer simulation both printing and post-printing processes. 3D bioprinting is now considered as an emerging information technology and the effective application of existing information technology tools and development of new technological platforms such as human tissue and organ informatics, design automation, virtual human organs, virtual organ biofabrication line, mathematical modeling and predictive computer simulations of bioprinted tissue fusion and maturation is an important technological imperative for advancing organ bioprinting

Nanotechnological Strategies for Biofabrication of Human Organs

Nanotechnology is a rapidly emerging technology dealing with so-called nanomaterials which at least in one dimension have size smaller than 100 nm. One of the most potentially promising applications of nanotechnology is in the area of tissue engineering, including biofabrication of 3D human tissues and organs. This paper focused on demonstrating how nanomaterials with nanolevel size can contribute to development of 3D human tissues and organs which have macrolevel organization. Specific nanomaterials such as nanofibers and nanoparticles are discussed in the context of their application for biofabricating 3D human tissues and organs. Several examples of novel tissue and organ biofabrication technologies based on using novel nanomaterials are presented and their recent limitations are analyzed. A robotic device for fabrication of compliant composite electrospun vascular graft is described. The concept of self-assembling magnetic tissue spheroids as an intermediate structure between nano- and macrolevel organization and building blocks for biofabrication of complex 3D human tissues and organs is introduced. The design of in vivo robotic bioprinter based on this concept and magnetic levitation of tissue spheroids labeled with magnetic nanoparticles is presented. The challenges and future prospects of applying nanomaterials and nanotechnological strategies in organ biofabrication are outlined

The Design, Fabrication and Animal Testing of Patient Specific Porous Polyurethane Auricular Implant with Optimal Material Properties for Treatment of Microtia

Porous non-biodegradable polyethylene implants for treatment microtia have suboptimal material properties. Additive manufacturing opens unique opportunities for rational design and fabrication of patient specific biocompatible auricular implant with optimal material properties maintainable after implantation. The patient specific porous polyurethane auricular implant have been designed using laser scanner, finite element analysis, CAD software and fabricated using fused deposition modeling. The material properties of human cadaveric auricular cartilage and fabricated implants have been tested using three points flexure method. The biocompatibility and maintainability of fabricated auricular implant size and geometry have been texted in nude rats. The patient specific porous polyurethane auricular implants have been fabricated using fused deposition modeling. The optimal material properties comparable with native cadaveric human auricular cartilage have been achieved using rational design approach based on finite element analysis. The original shape and geometry of implant have been maintained up to 3 months after implantation with optimal level of biocompatibility. The patient-specific biocompatible porous polyurethane auricular implant with optimal material properties sustainable after implantation could be fabricated using fused deposition modeling. The hydrid approach with simultaneous deposition of hydrogel filaments containing chondrocytes between polyurethane filaments will enable bioprinting of patient specific hybrid tissue engineered auricular implant with optimal and maintainable material properties

3D Printing of Biocompatible Acellular Auricular Implant Using Dual Scaled Hydrid Technology Combining Fused Deposition Modeling with Electrospinning

The dual-scaled hydrid scaffold fabrication technology based on combination of 3D printing (fused deposition modeling) and electrospining have been recently introduced. We report here the design, fabrication, mechanical testing, in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility testing of novel auricular implants for treatment microtia fabricated by dual scaled hydbrid scaffold fabrication technology

Burr-like, Laser-Made 3D Microscaffolds for Tissue Spheroid Encagement

The modeling, fabrication, cell loading, and mechanical and in vitro biological testing of biomimetic, interlockable, laser-made, concentric 3D scaffolds are presented. The scaffolds are made by multiphoton polymerization of an organic–inorganic zirconium silicate. Their mechanical properties are theoretically modeled using finite elements analysis and experimentally measured using a MicrosquisherVR . They are subsequently loaded with preosteoblastic cells, which remain live after 24 and 72 h. The interlockable scaffolds have maintained their ability to fuse with tissue spheroids. This work represents a novel technological platform, enabling the rapid, laser-based, in situ 3D tissue biofabrication

Design, Physical Prototyping and Initial Characterization of “Lockyballs”

Directed tissue self-assembly or bottom-up modular approach in tissue biofabrication is an attractive and potentially superior alternative to a classic top-down solid scaffoldbased approach in tissue engineering. For example, rapidly emerging organ printing technology using self-assembling tissue spheroids as building blocks is enabling a computer-aided robotic bioprinting of 3D tissue constructs. However, achieving proper material properties while maintaining desirable geometry and shape of 3D bioprinted tissue engineered constructs using directed tissue self-assembly, is still a challenge. Proponents of directed tissue self-assembly see solution of this problem in developing methods of accelerated tissue maturation and/or using sacrificial temporal supporting of removable hydrogels. In the meantime, there is a growing consensus that a third strategy based on the integration of a directed tissue self-assembly approach with a conventional solid scaffold-based approach could be a potential optimal solution. We hypothesize that tissue spheroids with “velcro®-like” interlockable solid microscaffolds or simply “lockyballs” could enable the rapid in vivo biofabrication of 3D tissue constructs at desirable material properties and high initial cell density. Recently, biocompatible and biodegradable photo-sensitive biomaterials could be fabricated at nanoscale resolution using two-photon polymerization (2PP), a development rendering this technique a high potential to fabricate “velcro-like” interlockable microscaffolds. Here we report design studies, physical prototyping using 2PP and initial functional characterization of interlockable solid microscaffolds or so-called “lockyballs”. 2PP was used as a novel enabling platform technology for rapid bottom-up modular tissue biofabrication of interlockable constructs. The principle of lockable tissue spheroids fabricated using the described lockyballs as solid microscaffolds is characterized by attractive new functionalities such as lockability and tunable material properties of the engineered constructs. It is reasonable to predict that these building blocks create the basis for a development of a clinical in vivo rapid biofabrication approach and forms part of recent promising emerging bioprinting technologies