Nasal Turbinate Stem Cell Bioink for 3D Bone Constructs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mesenchymal stem cells are difficult to obtain, require invasive procedures, are time-consuming and costly, and have a high risk of contamination, limiting their use in fabricating reproducible functional tissues and organs.

Innovation Solution

A method is developed to isolate mesenchymal stem cells from nasal turbinate tissue, encapsulate them in a hydrogel, and fabricate a 3D bioprinted construct using polycaprolactone (PCL) by micro-extrusion, which includes stabilizing the construct in a culture broth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional mesenchymal stem cells are obtained from bone marrow or adipose tissue, then the cells can be differentiated into various tissue types, but the acquisition process causes severe pain, requires anesthesia, and has high contamination risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedifferentiation capabilityVSAvoidpain and contamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts mesenchymal stem cells from nasal turbinate tissue, which is removed during sinus surgery anyway, rather than harvesting from bone marrow or adipose tissue. This extracts the harmful acquisition process from the cell collection method while preserving the cells' differentiation capabilities into various tissue types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses nasal turbinate tissue as an intermediary source for obtaining mesenchymal stem cells. This intermediary tissue serves as a convenient access point that eliminates the need for invasive bone marrow aspiration or liposuction, thereby reducing patient pain and anesthesia requirements while maintaining cell quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If conventional mesenchymal stem cells are cultured to sufficient amounts, then clinically adequate cell numbers are achieved, but the process requires a lot of time and money with high risk of cell loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell quantityVSAvoidculture time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by collecting nasal turbinate tissue at the time of sinus surgery, rather than collecting it separately later. This preliminary collection eliminates the need for separate tissue harvesting procedures and allows immediate cell isolation and culture initiation, significantly reducing the overall time required to obtain clinically sufficient cell quantities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent leverages the fact that nasal turbinate tissue is already being removed during necessary sinus surgery, making the cell source acquisition a self-service opportunity. The tissue that would otherwise be discarded as surgical waste is instead utilized as a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells, eliminating the need for separate tissue harvesting and reducing both time and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If 3D bioprinted constructs are fabricated using stem cells, then reproducible functional human tissues can be regenerated, but conventional acquisition methods remain invasive and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue regeneration consistencyVSAvoidcell acquisition ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts mesenchymal stem cells from nasal turbinate tissue that is removed during sinus surgery, providing a non-invasive source compared to bone marrow or adipose tissue harvesting. This extraction method maintains the reliability of tissue regeneration while dramatically improving the ease of cell acquisition by utilizing tissue already removed during necessary surgical procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method allows for stable, high-yield production of 3D bioprinted constructs with enhanced osteogenic differentiation and bone defect regeneration capabilities, suitable for personalized cellular therapeutic agents.

Implementation Method 1

fabricating a bioink by encapsulating the isolated mesenchymal stem cells in a hydrogel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrogel: Hydrogel

Implementation Method 2

fabricating a 3D bioprinted stem cell construct by a micro-extrusion method by mixing the bioink with polycaprolactone (PCL)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicro-extrusion: Extrusion

Data Source

PatentUS12427230B2Human nasal turbinate-derived mesenchymal stem cell-based, 3D bioprinted construct, and use thereof

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 THE CATHOLIC UNIV OF KOREA IND ACADEMIC COOP FOUND

AI summary

Provided are a method for fabricating a human nasal turbinate-derived mesenchymal stem cell-based 3D bioprinted construct, and a use thereof, wherein the human nasal turbinate-derived mesenchymal stem cell-based, 3D bioprinted construct is advantageous over conventional mesenchymal stem cell-based, 3D bioprinted constructs in that the former can survive and proliferate stably in vitro and/or in vivo and shows high osteogenic differentiation ability as well, therefore is expected to make a great contribution to the practical use of cellular therapeutic agents.