Method of printing a tissue construct with embedded vasculature

Abstract

A printed tissue construct comprises one or more tissue patterns, where each tissue pattern comprises a plurality of viable cells of one or more predetermined cell types. A network of vascular channels interpenetrates the one or more tissue patterns. An extracellular matrix composition at least partially surrounds the one or more tissue patterns and the network of vascular channels. A method of printing a tissue construct with embedded vasculature comprises depositing one or more cell-laden filaments, each comprising a plurality of viable cells, on a substrate to form one or more tissue patterns. Each of the one or more tissue patterns comprises one or more predetermined cell types. One or more sacrificial filaments, each comprising a fugitive ink, are deposited on the substrate to form a vascular pattern interpenetrating the one or more tissue patterns. The vascular pattern and the one or more tissue patterns are at least partially surrounded with an extracellular matrix composition. The fugitive ink is then removed to create vascular channels in the extracellular matrix composition, thereby forming an interpenetrating vascular network in a tissue construct.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present patent document claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 900,029, which was filed on Nov. 5, 2013, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.[0002]The following patents and patent application publications are also hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety: International Patent Application Serial No. PCT / US2012 / 044794, entitled “Multinozzle Deposition System for Direct Write Applications,” filed Jun. 29, 2012; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0084449, entitled “Viscoelastic Ink for Direct Writing of Hydrogel Structures,” which was filed as PCT / US2011 / 29429 on Mar. 22, 2011; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,101,139, entitled “Microcapillary Networks,” filed on Jun. 5, 2008.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0003]This invention was made with government support under contract number DMR 0820484 awarded by the National Science Foundation. The governmen...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0150]Furthermore, the advantages described above are not necessarily the only advantages of the invention, and it is not necessarily expected that all of the described advantages will be achieved with every embodiment of the invention.

Problems solved by technology

The inability to embed vascular networks in tissue constructs has hindered progress on 3D tissue engineering for decades.

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