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Direct Fabrication of a Hybrid Cell/Hydrogel Construct by a Double-nozzle Assembling Technology

Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology Ministry of Education & Center of Organ Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China, Institute of Life Science & Medicine, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084, P.R. China

Zhuo Xiong

Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology Ministry of Education & Center of Organ Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China, Institute of Life Science & Medicine, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084, P.R. China

Xiaohong Wang

Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology Ministry of Education & Center of Organ Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China, wangxiaohong{at}tsinghua.edu.cn, Institute of Life Science & Medicine, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084, P.R. China

Yongnian Yan

Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology Ministry of Education & Center of Organ Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China, Institute of Life Science & Medicine, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084, P.R. China

Haixia Liu

Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology Ministry of Education & Center of Organ Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China, Institute of Life Science & Medicine, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084, P.R. China

Renji Zhang

Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology Ministry of Education & Center of Organ Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China, Institute of Life Science & Medicine, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084, P.R. China

Assembling multitype cells and biomimic extracellular matrix materials in a single construct is a promising method to regenerate complex tissues/organs in vitro. A new double-nozzle assembling technique was used to fabricate a hybrid cell/hydrogel construct with a vascular-like network to perform as a mass exchange conduit. Using a digital model to mimic an anatomical liver structure, adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSC) were combined within a gelatin/alginate/fibrinogen hydrogel to form a vascular-like network and hepatocytes combined gelatin/alginate/chitosan were placed around it. The construct was stabilized in a thrombin/CaCl₂/Na₅P₃O₁₀ solution after assembly. The ADSC were induced to differentiate into endothelial-like cells with endothelial growth factor. The albumin secretion level of the embedded hepatocytes increased during the 2 weeks culture, while the levels of urea and alanine transaminase were decreased after an increasing profile. These preliminary results indicate that this double-nozzle assembling technique could be a powerful tool for fabricating complex constructs with special intrinsic/ extrinsic structures. This technology has the potential to be widely used in medical regeneration and drug screening.

Key Words: rapid prototyping • double-nozzle assembling • liver regeneration • hepatocyte • adipose-derived stromal cell • tissue engineering • vascular-like network • hybrid cell/hydrogel construct.

Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, Vol. 24, No. 3, 249-265 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0883911509104094


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