“Celling” New Technologies Based on 3D Bioprinting to Enable Tissue Repair

I recently had the opportunity to present at the Fifth Australian Bioprinting Workshop for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine in November – here is my abstract below for those interested.

Also, as we enter 2024, we will be building the BIENCO (bioengineered cornea) team. Interested? Please get in touch with me.

“Celling” New Technologies Based on 3D Bioprinting to Enable Tissue Repair

Gordon G. Wallace, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2500 Australia?

Our ability to design and create 3D structures containing living cells has been greatly enhanced in recent years. Biomaterials, cellular entities and proteins can be arranged in such a way that integration with host tissue can be facilitated. The implanted structures can then function in a way that enables tissue regeneration. With clinical deployment in mind we soon realise this is a complex multidimensional exercise. In the project planning stage – the sourcing of biomaterials and appropriate cells should be considered.

Here we will address the cellular elements in a number of application areas of interest to us.

These include:

Cartilage Regeneration: In our quest for cartilage regeneration in the knee we have explored the use of adipose stem cells (1-3). This involves removal of the fat pad from behind the knee and isolation of the stem cells. They are then introduced into a 3D biofabricated structure using a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) based bioink. Effective chondrogenesis can be induced in these 3D structures.

The isolation, recovery and proliferation of cells as part of a clinically relevant procedure has proven to be challenging but not insurmountable in this area. This has underscored the need for innovation in all parts of the protocol to be deployed clinically.

Skin Regeneration: Our collaborative work in these areas encompasses diverse skills of a world leading seaweed farmer to a world leading clinician. We have worked with our seaweed colleagues at Venus Shell Systems led by Dr Pia Winberg to identify exciting new molecules present in green seaweed (4). The presence of these molecules enhances both the mechanical properties and biological activity related to skin regeneration. Our more recent work with Fiona Wood’s team in Western Australia has focused our minds on clinical deployment. An obvious question as with other areas, centers around the source of cells to be used in clinically relevant protocols. The spray on skin invention – ReCellTM – developed by Prof. Wood and her team provides an attractive option. So currently we are looking at how this cell source can be better delivered using 3D bioprinting. The requirements for a point of care protocol in this area are discussed in our recent review article (5).

The Bioengineered Cornea: The realization of a bioengineered cornea requires the growth of three different cell types in an exquisitely arranged 3D structure (6-8). Our current approach involves recovery of these cell types from a donated cornea and subsequent proliferation and differentiation. We have shown that is possible to create a multi layered structure comprising the endothelium, stromal and epithelial layers – on the bench. The cell source in this case is from donated cornea and so our collaborative links with the Organ Tissue and Donation Service NSW are critical.

In each of the application areas we are pursuing the sourcing and processing of appropriate cell types for inclusion in the biofabricated structure has emerged as a critical element. It’s a hard sell without the cells!!

References

(1)???? O’Connell, C.D., …. Wallace, G.G. Bioprinting 2020, 19, e00087.

(2)???? Di Bella, C., …. Wallace, G.G., Choong, P.F. Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 2018, 12 (3), 611-621.

(3)???? Onofrillo, C., …. Wallace, G.G., Choong, P.F.M., Di Bella, C. Biofabrication 2018, 10, 045006.

(4)???? Daikuara, L.Y., Chen, X., Yue, Z., Skropeta, D., Wood, F.M., Fear, M.W., Wallace, G.G. Advanced Functional Materials 2022, 32 (3), 2105080.

(5)???? Wallace, E.R., Yue, Z., Dottori, M., Wood, F.M., Fear, M., Wallace, G.G., Beirne, S. Progress in Biomedical Engineering 2023, 5 (2), 023002.

(6)???? Chen, Z., …. Wallace, G.G. Acta Biomaterialia 2020, 113, 360-371.

(7)???? Song, Y., …. Wallace, G., Sutton, G., You, J. Bioprinting 2022, 28, e00235.

(8)???? Chen, Z., Wallace, G. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part A 2023, 111, 1151-1160.