Inkjet-Based 3D Bioprinting: From Cell-Level Manipulation to 3D Microstructured Tissue Fabrication

Abstract

Piezo-type inkjet printing allows ejecting of living cells and biomaterials in a picolitre (10-12 L) level and controls over cellular microenvironment from cell-level manipulation to fabrication of tissues with functional and microenvironmental complexity of in vivo. Freeform micropatterns of living cells could be created using direct cell-printing technique which does not involve any complicated fabrication step to precisely pattern the surface of the plate, but still have abilities to control shapes in a 100-μm scale. The technique also allows us to place two or more multiple types of cells in a single plate. As a case study, we applied this technique to investigate the influence of the heterogeneity and geometry of the cell population on the infectivity of seasonal H1N1 influenza virus (PR8). Furthermore, this inkjet-based bioprinting was also applied to fabricate human skin models with 3D microstructured dermis. In human skin, the papillary microarchitectures at the dermo-epidermal junction serve both structural and functional roles. Inkjet patterning of dermal fibroblasts guided the cells to self organize the protruded 3D microarchitectures through the native and active cell ECM interactions. We believe that inkjet bioprinting will provide an enhanced physiological connection between in vitro and in vivo.