One‐Step 3D Printing of Heart Patches with Built‐In Electronics for Performance Regulation

Abstract

Three dimensional (3D) printing of heart patches usually provides the ability to precisely control cell location in 3D space. Here, one‐step 3D printing of cardiac patches with built‐in soft and stretchable electronics is reported. The tissue is simultaneously printed using three distinct bioinks for the cells, for the conducting parts of the electronics and for the dielectric components. It is shown that the hybrid system can withstand continuous physical deformations as those taking place in the contracting myocardium. The electronic patch is flexible, stretchable, and soft, and the electrodes within the printed patch are able to monitor the function of the engineered tissue by providing extracellular potentials. Furthermore, the system allowed controlling tissue function by providing electrical stimulation for pacing. It is envisioned that such transplantable patches may regain heart contractility and allow the physician to monitor the implant function as well as to efficiently intervene from afar when needed.

3D Printing of Hydrogels for Stretchable Ionotronic Devices

“…The DIW method builds 3D objects through the continuous extrusion and solidification of overhanging filaments in a layerby-layer mode, posing significant challenges to constructing complex artificial organs (e.g., trachea implants, human coronary artery, and cardiac patch), [93][94][95] since gravity harms the shape maintenance and resolution of the printed objects. To meet such a challenge, embedded printing, [96] a variant of the DIW method, is recently proposed.…”

Extrusion 3D printing of conjugated polymers

“…34,37 Since excitable cells such as neurons and cardiomyocyctes are distributed in 3D in the body, it is often beneficial to create 3D arrangements of electrodes (Figure 1B). [38][39][40] Electrically-induced oxidation or reduction of CPs can induce ions to flow into a CP. This can cause the CP to swell due to the added volume of the ions or the increased osmotic pressure.…”

“…This electrical stimulation can occur at low electric fields and low frequency, resulting in lower requirements for the conductivity of the electrodes. 40,115 For applications in which the cells interpenetrate into the conductive electrodes, the 3D structure of the electrodes affects cell spreading. Consequently, pore size engineering of printable CP hydrogels is an active area of research.…”

Review on Development and Application of 3D-Printing Technology in Textile and Fashion Design

“…Unlike conventional two-dimensional printing, which prints out a two-dimensional pattern presentation or photo plane [2], 3DP can produce complex 3D structures in a shorter cycle and at a lower cost compared to traditional manufacturing. With its high manufacturing efficiency, scalability, low cost and ability to handle complexity, 3DP technology has been applied in many fields, including architecture [3], energy [4], electronics [5], biomedicine [6] and aerospace [7].…”