Inkjet Printing of Three-Dimensional VascularLike Constructs From Cell Suspensions
Dr. Changxue Xu, Prospective Faculty
Industrial Engineering Department
Thursday, February 26, 2015 – 3:30 pm
Livermore 104
Abstract:
Organ printing, emerging as a promising solution to the problem of organ donor shortage, offers a
great potential for the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) living organs by precisely layer-by-layer
placing various tissue spheroids. Vascularization is often identified as a main technological barrier for
building 3D organs. As such, the fabrication of 3D biological vascular trees is of great importance for
the overall feasibility of the envisioned organ printing technology.
This talk presents fabrication of 3D vascular-like constructs using a liquid support-based inkjet
printing approach. First, droplet formation of biomaterials and cell suspensions, which is the first step
towards 3D bioprinting, has been experimentally investigated regarding ligament pinch-off, droplet
size and velocity. Second, the generated droplets are precisely controlled to vertically and horizontally
build a 3D tubular structure mimicking blood vessel anatomy. The manufacturing challenges, such as
cross-sectional deformation, have been identified. Finally, the post-fabrication cell viability
immediately after printing and after 24-h incubation has been tested showing that most cells survive
and remain viable. This study lays a foundation for the effective and efficient fabrication of viable 3D
vascular constructs with complex anatomies (e.g., branching) as required in organ printing of vascular
trees.
BIOGRAPHY:
Changxue Xu, Ph.D., Postdoc, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida
February 26, 2015
3:30pm