In Vitro Human Tissues via Multi-material 3-D Bioprinting. Issue 4 (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kolesky, David B.; Homan, Kimberly A.; Skylar-Scott, Mark; Lewis, Jennifer A.
• Is Part Of: ATLA. Volume 46:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 209
• Page End: 215
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: 3-D tissues -- bioprinting -- kidney-on-a-chip -- stem cells -- vasculature; Laboratory animals -- Periodicals; 616.0273
• DOI: 10.1177/026119291804600404
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-1929

Abstract

This paper highlights the foundational research on multi-material 3-D bioprinting of human tissues, for which the Lewis Bioprinting team at Harvard University was awarded the 2017 Lush Science Prize. The team's bioprinting platform enables the rapid fabrication of 3-D human tissues that contain all of the essential components found in their in vivo counterparts: cells, vasculature (or other tubular features) and extracellular matrix. The printed 3-D tissues are housed within a customised perfusion system and are subjected to controlled microphysiological environments over long durations (days to months). As exemplars, the team created a thick, stem cell-laden vascularised tissue that was controllably differentiated toward an osteogenic lineage in situ, and a 3-D kidney tissue that recapitulated the proximal tubule, a sub-unit of the nephron responsible for solute reabsorption. This highly versatile platform for manufacturing 3D human tissue in vitro opens new avenues for replacing animal models used to develop next-generation therapies, test toxicity and study disease pathology.