Issue 35, 2024

Coaxial bioprinting of a stentable and endothelialized human coronary artery-sized in vitro model

Abstract

Atherosclerosis accounts for two-thirds of deaths attributed to cardiovascular diseases, which continue to be the leading cause of mortality. Current clinical management strategies for atherosclerosis, such as angioplasty with stenting, face numerous challenges, including restenosis and late thrombosis. Smart stents, integrated with sensors that can monitor cardiovascular health in real-time, are being developed to overcome these limitations. This development necessitates rigorous preclinical trials on either animal models or in vitro models. Despite efforts being made, a suitable human-scale in vitro model compatible with a cardiovascular stent has remained elusive. To address this need, this study utilizes an in-bath bioprinting method to create a human-scale, freestanding in vitro model compatible with cardiovascular stents. Using a coaxial nozzle, a tubular structure of human coronary artery (HCA) size is bioprinted with a collagen-based bioink, ensuring good biocompatibility and suitable rheological properties for printing. We precisely replicated the dimensions of the HCA, including its internal diameter and wall thickness, and simulated the vascular barrier functionality. To simplify post-processing, a pumpless perfusion bioreactor is fabricated to culture a HCA-sized model, eliminating the need for a peristaltic pump and enabling scalability for high-throughput production. This model is expected to accelerate stent development in the future.

Graphical abstract: Coaxial bioprinting of a stentable and endothelialized human coronary artery-sized in vitro model

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Mar 2024
Accepted
05 Jul 2024
First published
09 Aug 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024,12, 8633-8646

Coaxial bioprinting of a stentable and endothelialized human coronary artery-sized in vitro model

A. Ahmad, S. Kim, Y. Jeong, M. S. Khan, J. Park, D. Lee, C. Lee, Y. Choi and H. Yi, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024, 12, 8633 DOI: 10.1039/D4TB00601A

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