08:00 | Conference Registration, Materials Pick-Up, Morning Coffee, Tea and Breakfast Pastries |
| Session Title: Emerging Themes and Trends in 3D-Bioprinting in the Life Sciences |
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09:00 | | Keynote Presentation 3D Tissue Construction by Microtissue Assembly Shoji Takeuchi, Professor, Center For International Research on Integrative Biomedical Systems (CIBiS), Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
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09:45 | | Keynote Presentation Biofabrication for Osteochondral Regeneration Jos Malda, Professor of Biofabrication in Translational Regenerative Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Netherlands
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is already routinely used in the orthopedic clinic, e.g. for pre-operative models or intra-operative guides. Nevertheless, the shift towards 3D bioprinting has not yet occurred. This shift, however, does hold potential to advance the field of osteochondral regeneration. First, outer shapes of the biologically active construct can be personalized based on clinical images of the patient’s defect. Further, osteochondral or zonally organized constructs can be generated when printing with multiple bio-inks and relevant mechanical properties can be obtained by hybrid printing with thermoplastic polymers and hydrogels, as well as by the incorporation of reinforcing polymer meshes. Finally, bioprinting techniques contribute to the automation of the implant production process, reducing the risk of infection. This presentation will outline these opportunities, as well as some significant challenges that need to be addressed to prompt the shift from non-living implants towards living 3D bioprinted cartilage constructs in the clinic. |
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10:30 | Morning Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibit Hall |
11:15 | | Keynote Presentation Biofabrication: A New Tool Set to Study Biology in 3D with Applications in Regenerative Medicine and in vitro Models Lorenzo Moroni, Professor, Biofabrication for Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University and Founder MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Netherlands
Organs are complex systems, comprised of different tissues, proteins, and cells, which communicate to orchestrate a myriad of functions in our bodies. Technologies are needed to replicate these structures towards the development of new therapies for tissue and organ repair, as well as for in vitro 3D models to better understand the morphogenetic biological processes that drive organogenesis. To construct tissues and organs, biofabrication strategies are being developed to impart spatiotemporal control over cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix communication, often through control over cell and material deposition and placement. Here, we present some of our most recent advancements in biofabrication that enabled the control of cell activity, moving towards enhanced tissue regeneration as well as the possibility to create more complex 3D in vitro models to study biological processes. |
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12:00 | High Resolution 3D Printing for Biomedical Applications Aleksandr Ovsianikov, Professor, Head of Research Group 3D Printing and Biofabrication, Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien), Austria
3D printing opens exciting perspectives for the engineering of biomimetic 3D cell culture matrices, from classical scaffolds to cell-containing hydrogels. In this context, multi-photon lithography (MPL) represents an outstanding set of methods offering high spatial resolution, unmatched by other 3D printing approaches. An increasing portfolio of available materials enables utilization of the versatile capabilities of MPL, from producing complex volumetric 3D structures by means of cross-linking, to creating void patters within hydrogels already containing living cells. In this contribution, our recent progress on MPL for biomedical applications and the development of according materials will be presented. |
12:30 | Networking Lunch in the Exhibit Hall -- Meet the Exhibitors and View Posters |
| Session Title: Tissue Engineering and Bioprinting -- Research Trends and Applications Development |
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13:30 | Automating 3D Biology Margaret Prendergast, Director of Bioengineering and Pharmaceutical Development, Allevi, Inc.
Biology exists in 3D, but it is most often studied in oversimplified 2D models. Extrusion biofabrication finally presents scientists with the capability to create complex 3D biological environments. Standardized, automated biofabrication allows for high-throughput versatility, demonstrating great potential for a variety of applications, including high-throughput screening, organ-on-a-chip fabrication, and personalized medicine. In this presentation, learn more about the limitless possibilities of extrusion biofabrication. |
14:00 | | Keynote Presentation 3D Bioprinting Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications Daniel Chen, Professor, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
The speaker will report his group’s recent work and achievements 3D bioprinting scaffolds for various tissue engineering applications, including the repair of peripheral nerve injuries, spinal cord injuries, articular cartilage, and myocardial infarction. |
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14:45 | | Keynote Presentation Multi-Scale Biomaterial Printing Yan Yan Shery Huang, Professor of BioEngineering, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
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15:30 | Afternoon Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibit Hall |
16:00 | Technology Spotlight: 3D Bioprinting of Human Hepatic Tissue Models Hector Martínez, Chief Technology Officer, CELLINK, United States of America Itedale Namro Redwan, Senior Principal Scientist/Team Leader, CELLINK, Sweden
In this study, we evaluate the bioprintability of human liver ECM under physiological conditions to assess the in vitro biocompatibility with human hepatic cells and to model liver fibrosis in vitro. Human hepatic cell lines (HepG2 and LX2) were gently mixed with HEP X™ bioink using a CELLMIXER® directly into a cartridge before bioprinting. Tissue printing was performed in a BIO X 3D printer under physiological conditions. Bioprinted tissues were maintained in 3D culture up to 14 days and exposed to TGFß1 for 6 days in order to promote an in vitro fibrogenic process. The resultant bioprinted liver tissue was analysed by viability assay, histology and gene and protein expression. The combination of human liver ECM bioink with liver cell types resulted in an increased cell viability and proliferation compared to control bioink. Pro-fibrogenic genes and proteins including aSMA (p<0.001) and pro-COL1 (p<0.001) were up-regulated in the LX2-laden constructs after 6 days of TGFß1 exposure. HepG2-laden constructs showed spontaneous formation of spheroids after 14 days in culture with up-regulation of albumin gene expression and protein secretion after 14 days compared to 7 days (p<0.001). This is the first report describing the bioprinting of human hepatic tissue using human liver ECM as bioink. This is a key advance in the development of cell-instructive bioinks for the study of liver disease and for the development of 3D hepatic tissue for transplantation.
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16:30 | Digital Biomanufacturing Enabling Multimode 4D Bioprinting William G Whitford, Life Science Strategic Solutions Leader, DPS Group
3D bioprinting is the deposition of microchannels or droplets of a polymer and/or cell dispersion (bioink) to create 3D tissue-like structures that includes living cells. 4D bioprinting adds the extra dimension of time supporting the activity of smart, environmentally responsive biological structures and tissues. Many types of printing technologies are now used in bioprinting and each require appropriate manufacturing equipment, procedures and materials. Digital biomanufacturing orchestrates such concepts as increased monitoring, data handling, control algorithms, machine-learning and process modeling to a new level of process understanding, prediction and control. The IIoT, Big Data and Cloud technologies insure that the (historical and real-time) data being collected can be employed productively in richer data management, analysis and model generation. This leads to such values as more rapid process development as well as more comprehensive process control, automation and self-learning autonomation. Digital biomanufacturing will assist in the modeling and imaging required to recapitulate the (often personalized) complex and heterogeneous architecture of functional tissues and organs. It will also provide the required coordination and dynamic control of consequent complex tomographic information and models, multimode 3D printing and biofabrication processes, as well as such ancillary procedures as the environmental control of bioinks and nascent constructs. |
17:00 | Putting 3D Biofabrication to the Use of Tissue Model Fabrication Y. Shrike Zhang, Associate Bioengineer, Division of Engineering in Medicine, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, United States of America
The talk will discuss our recent efforts on developing a series of bioprinting strategies including sacrificial bioprinting, microfluidic bioprinting, and multi-material bioprinting, along with various cytocompatible bioink formulations, for the fabrication of biomimetic 3D tissue models. These platform technologies, when combined with bioreactors and bioanalysis, will likely provide new opportunities in constructing functional organoids with a potential of achieving precision therapy by overcoming certain limitations associated with conventional models based on planar cell cultures and animals. |
17:30 | | Keynote Presentation Modular 3D Printed Microfluidic Systems: Design with Manufacturability in Mind Noah Malmstadt, Professor, Mork Family Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Southern California, United States of America
Traditional approaches to microfluidic fabrication and modeling have relied on custom fabrication work flows that often focus on limited runs of one-off devices. This has led to a high cost that has limited the adaption of microfluidic systems for real-world applications. We have been developing an alternate approach to microfluidic fabrication that focuses on manufacturing modular components which are then assembled into microfluidic analytical systems. Each component can be manufactured in large production runs and the resulting manufacturing tolerances can be analyzed statistically. We have developed a stochastic model that uses these tolerances to facilitate a full design workflow that allows for us to specify the operational envelop of the completed system. This approach also allows for the direct incorporation of off-the-shelf electronic and mechanical components, providing functionality at low cost and using parts with well documented performance characteristics. While our current manufacturing workflow is based on stereolithographic 3D printing, this approach can easily be adapted to other low-cost manufacturing techniques, including injection molding, embossing, and machining. |
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18:15 | Networking Reception with Beer and Wine. Engage and Network with Your Colleagues, and Connect with the Exhibitors |
19:15 | Close of Day 1 of the Conference. |