Fabricating Neural and Cardiomyogenic Stem Cell Structures by a Novel Rapid Prototyping—the Inkjet Printing Method

Abstract

Direct printing of living cardiomyogenic stem cells and embryonic cortical neurons to generate complex cellular patterns and structures of such cells was demonstrated in the study. Furthermore, the immunostaining analyses and the whole-cell patch clamp recordings showed the cortical neurons grown in the printed cellular patterns and structures maintained their basic cellular functions, including neuronal phenotypes and electrophysiological properties. These results and findings may greatly prompt the inkjet printing method evolving into a viable and cost-effective approach for engineering human neural and cardiac tissues or even organs.