Most common <i>in vitro</i> cell culture models have been implemented as 2-dimensional so far, where the cells are layered at the bottom of a cell culture dish. However, cells are configured and vascularized three-dimensional (3D) in a tissue for an effective transfer of nutrients and oxygen. 3D bioprinting is a facile method for fabrication of 3D tissue models and body organs with advanced functionality. The technique requires biocompatible hydrogels, so called bioinks, to be used in 3D Bioprinters for rapid manufacturing of 3D tissues and organs in the laboratory conditions. We design cellulose nanofibril (CNF)-based functional bioinks for the preparation of model tissues using 3D Bioprinters. The cellulose nanofibrils were functionalized chemically with cell adhesive peptides, RGD (R: arginine; G: glycine D: aspartic acid), laminin and TGF-B in order to promote human dermal fibroblast adhesion and viability within the 3D Bioprinted CNF network. The degree of peptide/protein substitution, colloidal stability and gelation of the functionalized fibrils were characterized by dynamic light scattering, FT-IR and XPS. The printability tests were performed with a 3D Bioprinter under various printing pressure and speed. The influence of peptide conjugation and bioink composition on fibroblast adhesion, viability and proliferation was analysed. <i>In vitro</i> cell studies performed with 3D Bioprinted tissue models showed that the adhesion and viability of fibroblast cells were promoted significantly in CNF-conjugated bioinks compared with non-modified CNF bioinks.

Cellulose nanofibril-cell adhesive peptide conjugates for 3D bioprinted tissue models

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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