Publications

@article{Ruiz-Cantu2020-ep,

title = {Multi-material 3D bioprinting of porous constructs for 

 cartilage regeneration},

author = {Laura Ruiz-Cantu and Andrew Gleadall and Callum Faris and Joel Segal and Kevin Shakesheff and Jing Yang},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-04-01},

journal = {Mater. Sci. Eng. C Mater. Biol. Appl.},

volume = {109},

number = {110578},

pages = {110578},

publisher = {Elsevier BV},

abstract = {The current gold standard for nasal reconstruction after 

 rhinectomy or severe trauma includes transposition of autologous 

 cartilage grafts in conjunction with coverage using an 

 autologous skin flap. Harvesting autologous cartilage requires a 

 major additional procedure that may create donor site morbidity. 

 Major nasal reconstruction also requires sculpting autologous 

 cartilages to form a cartilage framework, which is complex, 

 highly skill-demanding and very time consuming. These 

 limitations have prompted facial reconstructive surgeons to 

 explore different techniques such as tissue engineered 

 cartilage. This work explores the use of multi-material 3D 

 bioprinting with chondrocyte-laden gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) 

 and polycaprolactone (PCL) to fabricate constructs that can 

 potentially be used for nasal reconstruction. In this study, we 

 have investigated the effect of 3D manufacturing parameters 

 including temperature, needle gauge, UV exposure time, and cell 

 carrier formulation (GelMA) on the viability and functionality 

 of chondrocytes in bioprinted constructs. Furthermore, we 

 printed chondrocyte-laden GelMA and PCL into composite 

 constructs to combine biological and mechanical properties. It 

 was found that 20% w/v GelMA was the best concentration for the 

 3D bioprinting of the chondrocytes without comprising the 

 scaffold's porous structure and cell functionality. In addition, 

 the 3D bioprinted constructs showed neocartilage formation and 

 similar mechanical properties to nasal alar cartilage after a 

 50-day culture period. Neocartilage formation was also observed 

 in the composite constructs evidenced by the presence of 

 glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II. This study shows the 

 feasibility of manufacturing neocartilage using 

 chondrocytes/GelMA/PCL 3D bioprinted porous constructs which 

 could be applied as a method for fabricating implants for nose 

 reconstruction.},

keywords = {3D printing, Bioprinting, Cartilage, Chondrocytes, GelMA, Multi-material 3D printing, Polycaprolactone, Surface porosity, Tissue engineering},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}