Silk fibers provide integrity and prevent cell damage in 3D-printed biological constructs

Researchers from Osaka University (Japan) have used silk fibers to enhance the 3D printing process without causing damage to cells or cell assemblies. The silk fibers, obtained by mechanical disintegration and described in Materials Today Bio, are considered a safe material for use in humans. The researchers are therefore optimistic that this work could enable the use of 3D printing in cell-based research to transition out of the laboratory and into real-world biomedical environments. The team started with virgin silk, removing sericin protein from the material to prevent inflammation in patients should the technique be translated into the clinic. The...