Affiliation:
1. Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory Department of Health Sciences & Technology ETH Zürich Otto‐Stern‐Weg 7 Zürich 8093 Switzerland
2. John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University 52 Oxford Street Cambridge MA 02138 USA
3. Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering Harvard University Boston MA 02115 USA
4. Division of Hand Surgery University Children's Hospital Zürich University of Zürich Zürich 8032 Switzerland
Abstract
AbstractTissue engineering approaches that recapitulate cartilage biomechanical properties are emerging as promising methods to restore the function of injured or degenerated tissue. However, despite significant progress in this research area, the generation of engineered cartilage constructs akin to native counterparts still represents an unmet challenge. In particular, the inability to accurately reproduce cartilage zonal architecture with different collagen fibril orientations is a significant limitation. The arrangement of the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a fundamental role in determining the mechanical and biological functions of the tissue. In this study, it is shown that a novel light‐based approach, Filamented Light (FLight) biofabrication, can be used to generate highly porous, 3D cell‐instructive anisotropic constructs that lead to directional collagen deposition. Using a photoclick‐based photoresin optimized for cartilage tissue engineering, a significantly improved maturation of the cartilaginous tissues with zonal architecture and remarkable native‐like mechanical properties is demonstrated.
Funder
H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Innosuisse - Schweizerische Agentur für Innovationsförderung
Subject
Pharmaceutical Science,Biomedical Engineering,Biomaterials