Abstract

Extrusion based Printing Techniques for Generating 3D Tissues

Petra Kluger, Researcher, Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology

The aim of Tissue Engineering is the development of in vitro tissues as alternatives to animal models or as cell-based implants. Therefore, tissue specific cells, scaffolds and signals (culture media, mechanical cues, etc.) are needed to build up tissue like models. A major challenge is the reproduction of complex tissue or even organ specific geometries and structures with the traditional manual protocols. Biofabrication techniques can help to solve to these problems. We use 3D-bioprinting to build up bioinspired human tissue models like bone, fat and cartilage mostly with our gelatin-based bioink and human primary cells. Additionally, we work on vascularized tissue models that will be reproducible manufactured. Beside printing vessel like structures, we actually focus on the printing of guiding structures to introduce cell-based vessel formation. After the fabrication we culture the printed constructs and let them mature under specific culture conditions to create functional tissue models.