Sichuan University Team Develops New 3D Printing Technology for Cartilage Tissue,Offering Hope for Repair and Reconstruction
Chengdu, China – A researchteam at Sichuan University has developed a novel 3D printing technology for cartilage tissue, offering a promising new approach for cartilage repair and reconstruction. The breakthrough, publishedin the journal Advanced Functional Materials, leverages a newly discovered nano-gelatin material that dynamically adapts to cell growth, overcoming a major hurdle in 3D bioprinting.
The demand for artificial living tissues and organs is significant in clinical settings. Bio-3D printing has emerged as a promising tool for creating these tissues, but a lack of advanced bio-3D printing materials hasbeen a major obstacle.
Currently, 3D printing of living tissue typically involves using cells and hydrogels as bio-ink to print a tissue engineering scaffold. The cells then grow and mature within the scaffold, eventually formingliving tissue. However, commonly used 3D printing hydrogels struggle to adapt dynamically to cell growth, limiting the transformation of 3D printed cell-laden tissue engineering scaffolds into functional living tissue.
Professor Ma-Ling Gou and her team at Sichuan University have been working on developing bio-3D printing technologies forbio-therapeutic applications. Their research focuses on integrating 3D printing with nanotechnology to develop innovative bio-therapeutic strategies and products.
Cartilage, a crucial component of the human body, is often affected by damage and degeneration. Cartilage defects are a common clinical problem with limited treatment options. 3D printingof cartilage tissue offers a potential solution for repairing and reconstructing damaged cartilage.
The team’s recent research stemmed from an unexpected discovery. While working on bio-3D printing materials, they stumbled upon a unique structural characteristic of a commonly used photo-curable gelatin material. Recognizing the potential of this nano-gelatin material, the team conducted extensive research to understand its properties and develop a controlled preparation method.
Their research involved three key steps:
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Developing a novel nano-gelatin material: The team thoroughly investigated the relationship between the structure, composition, and processing of nano-gelatin, elucidating the mechanismbehind its formation. They established a systematic method for preparing the material and comprehensively characterized its physicochemical properties.
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Revealing the potential of nano-gelatin in bio-3D printing: They established a bio-3D printing technology based on the nano-gelatin material and evaluated its biocompatibility.They also investigated the material’s ability to adapt to cell growth using its unique nano-structure, shedding light on the mechanism by which the nano-structure regulates cell function.
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Exploring the therapeutic potential of 3D printed cartilage tissue for cartilage defects: Using animal models, the team evaluated the effectiveness andmechanism of 3D printed customized cartilage tissue for repairing and reconstructing joint and outer ear cartilage.
The research demonstrated that the nano-gelatin material can be used for bio-3D printing and dynamically adapts to the growth of seeded cells. Unlike previous dynamic hydrogels that relied on reversible breakage and reformation of intermolecular chemical bonds to adapt to cell growth, this material utilizes its unique nano-structure. When subjected to cellular pressure, it rapidly generates localized physical deformation, providing space for cell growth and dynamically adapting to the cell growth process.
Furthermore, the material can regulate cell function through its nano-structure, promoting cell proliferation andextracellular matrix secretion, accelerating the formation of living tissue.
The use of nano-gelatin material in bio-3D printing, combined with the advantages of photo-curing 3D printing, has the potential to drive significant advancements in 3D printed living tissue technology. The 3D printed customized tissueengineering scaffolds containing chondrocytes, when implanted into the body, effectively transform into cartilage tissue, demonstrating promising therapeutic effects in the regeneration and reconstruction of joint and outer ear cartilage.
The nano-gelatin material also holds great promise for applications in rapid hemostasis and promoting regeneration of various tissues like skin, nerves,and bones, supporting the development of a range of innovative products.
The team plans to further refine the 3D printed cartilage tissue technology based on nano-gelatin and strive to advance it into clinical trials. They also aim to explore the potential of nano-gelatin in 3D printing of skin, brainorganoids, and other tissues, with the goal of developing new 3D printed living tissue technologies.
This groundbreaking research represents a significant step forward in the field of bio-3D printing, offering hope for the development of new and effective treatments for cartilage defects and other tissue regeneration challenges.
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