Affiliations: Department of Physics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA | Department of Biophysics and Medical Informatics, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 1900 Timisoara, Romania | Sciperio Inc., 2721 Discovery Dr. Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA | Department of Biology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Gabor Forgacs, Department of Physics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. Tel.: +1 573 882 3036; Fax: +1 573 882 4195; E-mail: forgacsg@missouri.edu.
Abstract: Bioprinting is an evolving tissue engineering technology. It utilizes computer controlled three-dimensional printers for rapid and high-precision construction of three-dimensional biological structures. We employed discrete and continuous bioprinting to build three-dimensional tissue constructs. In the former case bioink particles – spherical cell aggregates composed of many thousands of cells – are delivered one by one into biocompatible scaffolds, the biopaper. Structure formation takes place by the subsequent fusion of the bioink particles due to their liquid-like and self-assembly properties. In the latter case a mixture of cells and scaffold material is extruded from the biocartridge akin to toothpaste to arrive at the desired construct. Specifically, we built rectangular tissue blocks of several hundred microns in thickness as well as tubular structures of several millimeters in height. The physical basis of structure formation was studied by computer simulations.
