Title : Bioprinting bioinspired microenvironments to study cell-matrix interactions
Abstract:
Bioprinting is assuming a central role in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, enabling the fabrication of 3D constructs and in vitro tissue models with biological function. The biophysical and biochemical cues of the cell microenvironment are recognized as key variables determining cell fate and how cells respond to the surrounding niche. We have designed a toolbox of double crosslinked bioinks with tuneable and controllable cues to study the regulatory role of microenvironmental cues on cell behaviour and biological function of bioprinted constructs. Our approach involves the bioprinting of cell niches in which biophysical and biochemical cues can be independently modulated and presented to the cells in a precise manner. Our findings reveal the importance of matrix cues on cell response and their implication on the biological properties of bioprinted constructs.
