Within this interdisciplinary study, we demonstrate the applicability of a 6D printer for soft tissue engineering models. For this purpose, a special plant was constructed, combining the technical requirements for 6D printing with the biological necessities, especially for soft tissue. Therefore, a commercial 6D robot arm was combined with a sterilizable housing (including a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and ultraviolet radiation (UVC) lamps) and a custom-made printhead and printbed. Both components allow cooling and heating, which is desirable for working with viable cells. In addition, a spraying unit was installed that allows the distribution of fine droplets of a liquid. Advanced geometries on uneven or angled surfaces can be created with the use of all six axes. Based on often used bioinks in the field of soft tissue engineering (gellan gum, collagen, and gelatin methacryloyl) with very different material properties, we could demonstrate the flexibility of the printing system. Furthermore, cell-containing constructs using primary human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) could be produced in an automated manner. In addition to cell survival, the ability to differentiate along the adipogenic lineage could also be demonstrated as a representative of soft tissue engineering.
Keyphrases
- tissue engineering
- soft tissue
- high efficiency
- single cell
- induced apoptosis
- endothelial cells
- cell cycle arrest
- cell therapy
- stem cells
- cross sectional
- wastewater treatment
- ionic liquid
- mental illness
- radiation therapy
- escherichia coli
- biofilm formation
- wound healing
- cell death
- bone marrow
- pseudomonas aeruginosa
- cystic fibrosis
- oxidative stress
- cell proliferation
- signaling pathway