Nanotechnological Strategies for Biofabrication of Human Organs

Abstract

Nanotechnology is a rapidly emerging technology dealing with so-called nanomaterials which at least in one dimension have size smaller than 100 nm. One of the most potentially promising applications of nanotechnology is in the area of tissue engineering, including biofabrication of 3D human tissues and organs. This paper focused on demonstrating how nanomaterials with nanolevel size can contribute to development of 3D human tissues and organs which have macrolevel organization. Specific nanomaterials such as nanofibers and nanoparticles are discussed in the context of their application for biofabricating 3D human tissues and organs. Several examples of novel tissue and organ biofabrication technologies based on using novel nanomaterials are presented and their recent limitations are analyzed. A robotic device for fabrication of compliant composite electrospun vascular graft is described. The concept of self-assembling magnetic tissue spheroids as an intermediate structure between nano- and macrolevel organization and building blocks for biofabrication of complex 3D human tissues and organs is introduced. The design of in vivo robotic bioprinter based on this concept and magnetic levitation of tissue spheroids labeled with magnetic nanoparticles is presented. The challenges and future prospects of applying nanomaterials and nanotechnological strategies in organ biofabrication are outlined.

Accelerated Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Degradation Mediated by Polyester Encapsulation within Cellular Spheroids

“…A variety of nanomaterials, including gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, polymeric nanoparticles, and magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, have been used in various tissue engineering strategies involving imaging, tissue maturation and integration, and drug delivery . Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are now being increasingly used in biomedical applications, with some U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved iron oxide MNP formulations used to treat iron deficiency (Feraheme) or as MRI contrast agents (Feridex) . MNPs have been investigated in tissue engineering applications for in vivo cell tracking, in vivo monitoring of transplanted tissues, cell and tissue patterning, and tissue maturation .…”

Learning from Nature: Using bioinspired approaches and natural materials to make porous bioceramics

“…Following strictly the paradigm “from native tissue to man‐made tissue‐like construct”, some new computational approaches and advanced CAM methods have been recently proposed for constructing complex scaffolds with porous hierarchies based on microtomographical reconstructions of the patient's organs acting as virtual templates . Looking at the future, the next step on this path will involve the incorporation of living cells into the biomaterial construct at the time of production by means of biofabrication strategies (e.g., bioplotting) . Biomaterials science, cell biology, and mechanical engineering are the main disciplines involved in this emerging technology which has the potential to open a new horizon in the field of regenerative medicine and organ printing.…”

“…108,109 Looking at the future, the next step on this path will involve the incorporation of living cells into the biomaterial construct at the time of production by means of biofabrication strategies (e.g., bioplotting). 110 Biomaterials science, cell biology, and mechanical engineering are the main disciplines involved in this emerging technology which has the potential to open a new horizon in the field of regenerative medicine and organ printing. Early results in vivo (animal models) have demonstrated that implantation of cell-seeded ceramic/polymer porous composites can accelerate osteogenesis and the rate of bone healing compared to "conventional" scaffolds.…”

Hydrogels for Two‐Photon Polymerization: A Toolbox for Mimicking the Extracellular Matrix

“…Encapsulating living cells during the fabrication process has also been reported 43. However, despite significant progress in controlling the fiber orientation,44 electrospinning does not allow the exact recapitulation of the entire matrix architecture 45. The fabricated scaffolds are ideal substrates for growing and implanting cell monolayers.…”