Vascularization of tissue engineered cartilage - Sequential in vivo MRI display functional blood circulation
Journal article, 2021

Establishing functional circulation in bioengineered tissue after implantation is vital for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells. Native cartilage is avascular and thrives on diffusion, which in turn depends on proximity to circulation. Here, we investigate whether a gridded three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted construct would allow ingrowth of blood vessels and thus prove a functional concept for vascularization of bioengineered tissue. Twenty 10 × 10 × 3-mm 3Dbioprinted nanocellulose constructs containing human nasal chondrocytes or cell-free controls were subcutaneously implanted in 20 nude mice. Over the next 3 months, the mice were sequentially imaged with a 7 T small-animal MRI system, and the diffusion and perfusion parameters were analyzed. The chondrocytes survived and proliferated, and the shape of the constructs was well preserved. The diffusion coefficient was high and well preserved over time. The perfusion and diffusion patterns shown by MRI suggested that blood vessels develop over time in the 3D bioprinted constructs; the vessels were confirmed by histology and immunohistochemistry. We conclude that 3D bioprinted tissue with a gridded structure allows ingrowth of blood vessels and has the potential to be vascularized from the host. This is an essential step to take bioengineered tissue from the bench to clinical practice.

Vascularization

DWI

In vivo

MRI

Chondrocytes

Angiogenesis

Cartilage

3D bioprinting

Author

Peter Apelgren

Sahlgrenska University Hospital

University of Gothenburg

Matteo Amoroso

University of Gothenburg

Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Karin Säljö

University of Gothenburg

Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Mikael Montelius

University of Gothenburg

Anders Lindahl

University of Gothenburg

Linnea Strid Orrhult

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Paul Gatenholm

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Lars Kölby

University of Gothenburg

Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Biomaterials

0142-9612 (ISSN) 18785905 (eISSN)

Vol. 276 121002

Subject Categories

Cell and Molecular Biology

Bioengineering Equipment

Medical Biotechnology

DOI

10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121002

PubMed

34274777

More information

Latest update

7/29/2021