Biofabrication of bacterial nanocellulose scaffolds with complex vascular structure
Journal article, 2019

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) has proven to be an effective hydrogel-like material for different tissue engineering applications due to its biocompatibility and good mechanical properties. However, as for all biomaterials, in vitro biosynthesis of large tissue constructs remains challenging due to insufficient oxygen and nutrient transport in engineered scaffold-cell matrices. In this study we designed, biofabricated and evaluated bacterial nanocellulose scaffolds with a complex vascular mimetic lumen structure. As a first step a method for creating straight channeled structures within a bacterial nanocellulose scaffold was developed and evaluated by culturing of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs). In a second step, more complex structures within the scaffolds were produced utilizing a 3D printer. A print mimicking a vascular tree acted as a sacrificial template to produce a network within the nanoporous bacterial nanocellulose scaffolds that could be lined with endothelial cells. In a last step, a method to produce large constructs with interconnected macro porosity and vascular like lumen structure was developed. In this process patient data from x-ray computed tomography scans was used to create a mold for casting a full-sized kidney construct. By showing that the 3D printing technology can be combined with BNC biosynthesis we hope to widen the opportunities of 3D printing, while also enabling the production of BNC scaffolds constructs with tailored vascular architectures and properties.

HUVECs

bacterial nanocellulose

3D printing

tissue engineering

vascular mimetic

Author

Sanna Sämfors

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Kristina Karlsson

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Engineering Materials

Johan Sundberg

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Kajsa Markstedt

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Paul Gatenholm

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Cellheal AS

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Biofabrication

1758-5082 (ISSN) 1758-5090 (eISSN)

Vol. 11 4 045010

Subject Categories

Bio Materials

Bioengineering Equipment

Biomaterials Science

DOI

10.1088/1758-5090/ab2b4f

PubMed

31220812

More information

Latest update

10/5/2022