Bioprinting of Cartilaginous Auricular Constructs Utilizing an Enzymatically Crosslinkable Bioink

Bioprinting of functional tissues could overcome tissue shortages and allow a more rapid response for treatments. However, despite recent progress in bioprinting, its outstanding ability to position cells biomaterials precise 3D manner, success has been limited, due insufficient maturation constructs into tissue. Here, novel calcium-triggered enzymatic crosslinking (CTEC) mechanism bioinks based on the activation cascade Factor XIII is presented utilized biofabrication cartilaginous constructs. Hyaluronan transglutaminase (HA-TG), an enzymatically crosslinkable material, shown excellent characteristics chondrogenesis builds basis CTEC bioink. The bioink supports with neocartilage formation stiffening up 400 kPa. Bioprinted remain stable vivo 24 weeks bioprinted auricular transform grafts. A major limitation current study deposition collagen I, indicating toward fibrocartilage rather than elastic cartilage. Shifting process cartilage will therefore be essential order developed offer engineered treatment microtia patients. bioprinting furthermore opens use biopolymers their modularity support multitude tissues.