Multidomain peptides: 3D printing cell scaffolds for regenerative medicine

A new type of 3D printable ink derived from peptides could be utilized to create cell scaffolds for growing tissue.

Researchers from Rice University (TX, US) have shown that multidomain peptides (MDP) could be utilized as a printable ink to create 3D structures that resemble biological tissue.

Studies have explored the uses of MDPs in the field of regenerative medicine and examples include tissue engineering, nerve regeneration and wound healing. Soft materials such as MDPs can be difficult to work with in 3D-printing due to how they adhere together, however this did not stop the team from exploring whether MDPs could function as a 3D-printing ink. The findings, which were published in Advanced Materials, describe how the researchers utilized MDP’s alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic structure, which is surrounded by charged residues, to form a nanofibrous hydrogel.

“It might be counterintuitive since our material is so soft, but I recognized that our multidomain peptides are an ideal ink candidate because of the way they self-assemble. Our material can reassemble after being deformed, similar to how toothpaste forms a nice fiber when pushed out of a tube,” stated Adam Farsheed, lead author of the study.

To investigate optimization and characterization of the material, the team printed structures using anionic and cationic MDPs. In one of the tests conducted, immature muscle cells were placed on the anionic and cationic 3D-printed structures. The researchers noticed that the cells placed on the structure printed with cationic MDPs responded well as they observed cell growth and maturation. In addition, the team successfully performed an overhang test on the MDPs to evaluate the printability of the peptides.

Given that MDPs rely on supramolecular forces for assembly rather than covalent crosslinking, the team believe that it could led to improved biocompatibility, reducing the risk of an immune response if it was to be utilized in the body.

Looking ahead to the future, the findings from the study opens a new avenue for researchers to explore whether MDPs could be utilized as a 3D-printing ink for applications such as regenerative medicine and disease modeling.

“Eventually, the goal is to print structures with cells and grow mature tissue in a petri dish. These tissues can then be transplanted to treat injuries, or used to learn about how an illness works and to test drug candidates,” commented Adam Farsheed.