Bioprinting shape-morphing hearts
A novel bioprinting technique has been developed to create tissues that reshape themselves in response to forces generated by cells, mimicking the natural processes that occur during organ development.
Researchers at the University of Galway (Ireland) have created a bioprinting method that mimics the natural shape-changing processes of biological tissues during organ development. This approach leverages the forces generated by cells to drive these transformations, replicating how tissues naturally form and mature in the body. The work was led by a team from the School of Engineering and CÚRAM Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices at University of Galway.
Bioprinting is a 3D printing technique used to create biological structures, such as tissues and organs, by depositing layers of bioinks. These bioinks combine living cells with a matrix that supports cell viability, proliferation and differentiation while maintaining the structural integrity of the printed construct.
Despite the potential of bioprinting to create lab-grown organs that physically resemble their human equivalent, producing fully functional organs remains a significant challenge. For example, while bioprinted heart tissues can contract, their strength often falls short compared to a healthy adult heart.
Traditional bioprinting typically focuses on replicating the final anatomical structure of organs but neglects the dynamic shape changes that occur during embryonic development. For example, the heart starts as a simple tube that bends and twists to develop into its mature four-chambered form.
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Recognizing this limitation, researchers at the University of Galway have created an innovative bioprinting technique that incorporates these critical shape-changing processes.
Lead author of the research, Ankita Pramanick, explained: “Our work introduces a novel platform, using embedded bioprinting to print tissues that undergo programmable and predictable 4D shape-morphing driven by cell-generated forces. Using this new process, we found that shape-morphing improved the structural and functional maturity of bioprinted heart tissues.”
The research demonstrated that the forces produced by cells can drive the shape transformation of bioprinted tissues. By adjusting specific factors, such as the initial geometry of the bioprinted structure and the stiffness of the bioink, researchers were able to control the extent of these shape changes. These transformations not only helped align the cells within the tissue but also improved the tissue’s ability to contract, which is crucial for functional performance, especially in applications like heart tissue.
Additionally, the team created a computational model capable of predicting how bioprinted tissues would change shape during development. This predictive tool allows for better design and optimization of bioprinting processes to produce more functional and mature tissues.
While bioprinting functional tissues suitable for human implantation remains a distant goal, this research brings us a step closer. Looking ahead, the team aims to focus future research on scaling their techniques and integrating vascular networks into the bioprinted tissues.
