RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 3D printing of Microgel-loaded Modular LEGO-like Cages as Instructive Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.03.02.974204
DO 10.1101/2020.03.02.974204
A1 Christina Hipfinger
A1 Ramesh Subbiah
A1 Anthony Tahayeri
A1 Avathamsa Athirasala
A1 Sivaporn Horsophonphong
A1 Greeshma Thrivikraman
A1 Cristiane Miranda França
A1 Diana Araujo Cunha
A1 Amin Mansoorifar
A1 Albena Zahariev
A1 James M. Jones
A1 Paulo G. Coelho
A1 Lukasz Witek
A1 Hua Xie
A1 Robert E. Guldberg
A1 Luiz E. Bertassoni
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/03/04/2020.03.02.974204.abstract
AB Biomaterial scaffolds have served as the foundation of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, scaffold systems are often difficult to scale in size or shape in order to fit defect-specific dimensions, and thus provide only limited spatiotemporal control of therapeutic delivery and host tissue responses. Here, a lithography-based three-dimensional (3D) printing strategy is used to fabricate a novel miniaturized modular LEGO-like cage scaffold system, which can be assembled and scaled manually with ease. Scalability is based on an intuitive concept of stacking modules, like conventional LEGO blocks, allowing for literally thousands of potential geometric configurations, and without the need for specialized equipment. Moreover, the modular hollow-cage design allows each unit to be loaded with biologic cargo of different compositions, thus enabling controllable and easy patterning of therapeutics within the material in 3D. In summary, the concept of miniaturized cage designs with such straight-forward assembly and scalability, as well as controllable loading properties, is a flexible platform that can be extended to a wide range of materials for improved biological performance.TOC 3D printed LEGO-like hollow microcages can be easily assembled, adjoined, and stacked-up to suit the complexity of defect tissues; aid spatial loading of cells and biomolecules; instruct cells migration three-dimensionally; and facilitate cell invasion and neovascularization in-vivo, thus accelerating the process of tissue healing and new tissue formation.