Abstract

BioPrinting Cartilage: Promise and Challenges

Marcy Zenobi-Wong, , The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH)

Bioprinting’s great promise is to provide tissue grafts which are personalized in terms of their geometry, material properties and the patient’s own cells. A novel cartilage bioink was developed based on two unmodified regulatory-compliant polysaccharides which undergoes cell friendly gelation in the presence of cations. We describe how the bioinks are optimized in terms of rheological, mechanical and biological properties. For good printing resolution, the bioink must first have shear thinning and shear recovery properties. The mechanical properties of the graft must also be appropriate for the intended implantation site. For this, mechanical testing of bioprinted tensile specimens was performed according to ISO standards and revealed a strong, ductile material. To augment biological properties, cartilage extracellular matrix particles and sulfated biopolymers were introduced. Bioprinting holds great promise in regenerative medicine,but the safety and reliability of the grafts must be assured before they can enter the clinic. As with any new technology, standardization of the manufacturing process and graft evaluation are needed.