Abstract

Micro/Nano Engineered Biomaterials for Manufacturing Biomimetic Tissues and Biomedical Applications

Su Ryon Shin, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Damage and loss to muscles are common for survivors of trauma-related injuries and disease. In cases where a patient has damaged or lost a significant amount of tissues, the body is unable to repair or regain the lost tissue. Current treatment options are limited, and many patients must undergo multiple surgeries, which are costly and bear the significant risk to the patient. However, a few significant challenges in tissue engineering still exist, such as recapitulating the in vitro, 3D hierarchical microarchitecture comprised of multiple cell types and the extracellular matrix (ECM) components of native tissues and achieving the continuous function and viability of engineered tissues after implantation. To create biomimetic tissue constructs, we developed an advanced multi-material bioprinting platform that employs self-healing supporting baths and a programmable microfluidic device, which can easily and quickly switch between different materials, biological reagents, and cells. This advanced bioprinting platform allowed us to fabricate complex geometrical structures such as centimeter-sized biomimetic uni- or bi-cellular tissue constructs. Another challenge is the survival of bioprinted 3D tissue constructs at the injured area, which is fully dependent on the oxygenation derived by its connection to the blood circulation of the host body. Incorporating functional vasculatures or oxygenating biomaterials could potentially solve this problem, as it immediately allows for the perfusion of blood, thus offering instant and ample amounts of oxygen and nutrients. We have developed oxygen-generating biomaterials containing molecules that release oxygen upon hydrolysis that allow the implant to survive their non-perfused phase and enable the continued function and maturation of living implants. The successful development of these innovative systems is expected to improve tissue regeneration significantly.