Freeform Perfusable Microfluidics Embedded in Hydrogel Matrices.

Gabriela Štumberger,Boštjan Vihar

doi:10.3390/ma11122529

Abstract

We report a modification of the freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) 3D printing method for the fabrication of freeform perfusable microfluidics inside a hydrogel matrix. Xanthan gum is deposited into a CaCl2 infused gelatine slurry to form filaments, which are consequently rinsed to produce hollow channels. This provides a simple method for rapid prototyping of microfluidic devices based on biopolymers and potentially a new approach to the construction of vascular grafts for tissue engineering.

Highlights

Due to the required high proximity of cells to blood vessels, the fabrication of vascular structures has enormous impact on the engineering of tissues and organs
We propose a new approach on how to create freeform, perfusable channels embedded in a gelatine matrix, based on freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) by Hinton et al, 2015 [9]
We describe a method for the fabrication of perfusable freeform microfluidics, created from hydrogels based on biopolymers

Summary

Introduction

Due to the required high proximity of cells to blood vessels, the fabrication of vascular structures has enormous impact on the engineering of tissues and organs. The required resolution, structural integrity and simultaneous biocompatibility is yet to be achieved, the fabrication of thick vascular tissues is still the main challenge to solve in tissue engineering [1,2,3]. While existing techniques show a lot of promise, many challenges remain to be resolved These include transfer from 2D to 3D structures, mechanical integrity of tissues with a high density of hollow tubes and shear stresses due to fluid flow, or resolution [2,6]. The FRESH method allows precise deposition of material inside a gelatine matrix (slurry), which offers support for the printed material and allows the fabrication of almost any shape or form.

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