An Optical Method for Evaluation of Geometric Fidelity for Anatomically Shaped Tissue-Engineered Constructs

Abstract

Quantification of shape fidelity of complex geometries for tissue-engineered constructs has not been thoroughly investigated. The objective of this study was to quantitatively describe geometric fidelities of various approaches to the fabrication of anatomically shaped meniscal constructs. Ovine menisci (n ¼ 4) were imaged using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and microcomputed tomography (mCT). Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic molds were designed from each imaging modality and three-dimensional printed on a Stratasys FDM 3000. Silastic impression molds were fabricated directly from ovine menisci. These molds were used to generate shaped constructs using 2% alginate with 2% CaSO 4 . Solid freeform fabrication was conducted on a custom openarchitecture three-dimensional printing platform. Printed samples were made using 2% alginate with 0.75% CaSO 4 . Hydrogel constructs were scanned via laser triangulation distance sensor. The point cloud images were analyzed to acquire computational measurements for key points of interest (e.g., height, width, and volume). Silastic molds were within AE10% error with respect to the native tissue for seven key measurements, mCT molds for six of seven, mCT prints for four of seven, MRI molds for five of seven, and MRI prints for four of seven. This work shows the ability to generate and quantify anatomically shaped meniscal constructs of high geometric fidelity and lends insight into the relative geometric fidelities of several tissue engineering techniques.

Tissue-engineered intervertebral discs produce new matrix, maintain disc height, and restore biomechanical function to the rodent spine

“…Here we show that our previously documented approach to producing TE-TDR implants with circumferentially aligned collagen fibrils in the AF (15), combined with image-based design techniques to reproduce precise anatomy (22)(23)(24)(25)(26) yielded implants that integrated with the rat caudal spine, reproduced appropriate tissue structure, and generated a mechanically functional motion segment in the rat caudal spine.…”

Three-Dimensional Bioprinting and Its Potential in the Field of Articular Cartilage Regeneration

“…39,81 Notably, multiple studies have demonstrated that optical scanning for validation can be incorporated in 3D bioprinters. 69,82 This offers the prospect of real-time assessment of print fidelity and immediate quality control/ quality analysis that may be useful for regulatory compliance. Ultimate clinical translation will also have to include strategies and regulations for cell sourcing, whether autologous or allogeneic, cell incorporation in the bio-ink or seeding on the printed construct, and implantation techniques to implant and fix the printed construct into the defect side.…”

Progress in developing a living human tissue-engineered tri-leaflet heart valve assembled from tissue produced by the self-assembly approach

“…Briefly, those approaches include: decellularized matrix scaffold reseeded or not with cells [33][34][35][36][37][38][39], biodegradable synthetic polymers [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47], biological protein based polymer [48][49][50][51], in vivo TEHV [52,53], hybrid TEHV manufacturing strategies (combining different approaches together) [53,54] and 3D printing of the valve [55][56][57][58]. A completely biological approach has also been recently developed by Cytograft™, allowing to produce a TEVH intended for transcatheter repair following an extended culture period in vitro [59].…”