Abstract

Engineering Human Tissues Using 3D Bioprinting Technology

Jinah Jang, Assistant Professor, POSTECH

Recent development in bioengineering enables us to create human tissues by integrating various native microenvironments, including tissue specific cells, biochemical and biophysical cues. A significant transition of 3D bioprinting technology into the biomedical field helps to improve the function of engineered tissues by recapitulating physiologically relevant geometry, complexity, and vascular network. Bioinks, used as printable biomaterials, facilitate dispensing of cells through a dispenser as well as supports cell viability and function by providing engineered extracellular matrix. Successful construction of functional human tissues requires accurate environments that are able to mimic biochemical and biophysical properties of target tissue. Formulation of printable materials with stem cells are critical process to guide cellular behavior; however, this is rarely considered in the context of bioprinting in which the tissue should be formed. This talk will cover my research interests in building 3D human tissues and organs to understand, diagnose and treat various intractable diseases, particularly for cardiovascular disease. A development of tissue-derived decellularized extracellular matrix bioink platform will be mainly discussed as a straightforward strategy to provide biological and biophysical phenomena into engineered tissues. I will also discuss about a development of 3D vascularized cardiac stem cell patch that is generated by integrating the concept of tissue engineering and the developed platform technologies. Combined with recent advances in human pluripotent stem cell technologies, printed human tissues could serve as an enabling platform for studying complex physiology in tissue and organ contexts of individuals.