Biofabrication of tissue engineering constructs with tailored architecture and organized cell placement using rapid prototyping technologies is a major research focus in the field of regenerative therapies. This study describes a novel alginate-based material suitable for both cell embedding and fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) structures with predefined geometry by 3D plotting. The favourable printing properties of the material were achieved by using a simple strategy: addition of methylcellulose (MC) to a 3% alginate solution resulted in a strongly enhanced viscosity, which enabled accurate and easy deposition without high technical efforts. After scaffold plotting, the alginate chains were crosslinked with Ca ; MC did not contribute to the gelation and was released from the scaffolds during the following cultivation. The resulting constructs are characterized by high elasticity and stability, as well as an enhanced microporosity caused by the transient presence of MC. The suitability of the alginate/MC blend for cell embedding was evaluated by direct incorporation of mesenchymal stem cells during scaffold fabrication. The embedded cells showed high viability after 3 weeks of cultivation, which was similar to those of cells within pure alginate scaffolds which served as control. Maintenance of the differentiation potential of embedded cells, as an important requirement for the generation of functional tissue engineering constructs, was proven for adipogenic differentiation as a model for soft tissue formation. In conclusion, the temporary integration of MC into a low-concentrated alginate solution allowed the generation of scaffolds with dimensions in the range of centimetres without loss of the positive properties of low-concentrated alginate hydrogels with regard to cell embedding. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Additive manufacturing is a promising technology for the fabrication of customized implants with complex geometry. The objective of this study was to investigate the initial cell−material interaction of degradable Fe-30Mn-1C-0.02S stent structures in comparison to conventional 316L as a reference, both processed by laser powder bed fusion. FeMn-based alloys have comparable mechanical properties with clinically applied AISI 316L for a corrosion-resistant stent material. Different corrosion stages of the as-built Fe-30Mn-1C-0.02S stent surfaces were simulated by pre-conditioning in DMEM under cell culture conditions for 2 h, 7 days, and 28 days. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were directly seeded onto the pre-conditioned samples, and cell viability, adherence, and morphology were analyzed. These studies were accompanied by measurements of iron and manganese ion release and Auger electron spectroscopy to evaluate the influence of corrosion products and degradation on the cells. In the initial phase (2 h of preconditioning), HUVECs were able to attach but the cell number decreased over the cultivation period of 14 days and the CD31 staining pattern of intercellular contacts was disordered. At later time points of corrosion (7 and 28 days of pre-conditioning), CD31 staining was distinctly located at the intercellular contacts, and the cell density increased after seeding and was stable for up to 14 days. Formation of a complex degradation layer, which had a composition and thickness dependent on the pre-conditioning time, led to a reduced ion release and finally showed a positive effect on cell survival. Concluding, our data suggest the suitability of Fe-30Mn-1C-0.02S for in vivo applications.