Functional Skin Grafts: Where Biomaterials Meet Stem Cells

Figure 3

3D bioprinting to develop custom-made skin tissue constructs. (a) A customized printer used in our lab (by Alfatek Systems, Kolkata). (b) The CAD image prepared using the inbuilt software in a readable file format for bioprinting. (c) Following the CAD image, a pluronic-based bioink mixed with fibroblasts is loaded into the syringe fitted with a nozzle and the printing process is executed under applied pressure. (d) 3D bioprinted construct. (e) Fluorescence micrograph of GFP-tagged fibroblasts (green) showing cellular distribution inside the filaments of the construct immediately after printing. (f) Protein expression of skin-specific marker vimentin (red) in a 3D bioprinted pluronic-based construct 3 days postprinting by immunofluorescent staining. Nuclear staining was done by DAPI (blue). (g) In situ bioprinting strategy schematically depicted on the burnt skin of a patient demonstrating deposition of the bioink directly on the region of interest. . Abbreviations: CAD—computer-aided design; IHF—immortalized human fibroblasts. Immortalized human fibroblasts (IHF) were used for 3D bioprinting.

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