Cartilage Tissue Engineering by the 3D Bioprinting of iPS Cells in a Nanocellulose/Alginate Bioink

Duong Nguyen; Daniel A. Hägg; Alma Forsman; Josefine Ekholm; Puwapong Nimkingratana; Camilla Brantsing; Theodoros Kalogeropoulos; Samantha Zaunz; Sebastian Concaro; Mats Brittberg; Anders Lindahl; Paul Gatenholm; Annika Enejder; Stina Simonsson

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-00690-y

Scientific Reports (Apr 2017)

Cartilage Tissue Engineering by the 3D Bioprinting of iPS Cells in a Nanocellulose/Alginate Bioink

Duong Nguyen,
Daniel A. Hägg,
Alma Forsman,
Josefine Ekholm,
Puwapong Nimkingratana,
Camilla Brantsing,
Theodoros Kalogeropoulos,
Samantha Zaunz,
Sebastian Concaro,
Mats Brittberg,
Anders Lindahl,
Paul Gatenholm,
Annika Enejder,
Stina Simonsson

Affiliations

Duong Nguyen: Chemical Biology, Dept. of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology
Daniel A. Hägg: 3D Bioprinting Center, Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology
Alma Forsman: Institute of Biomedicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, University of Gothenburg
Josefine Ekholm: Institute of Biomedicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, University of Gothenburg
Puwapong Nimkingratana: Institute of Biomedicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, University of Gothenburg
Camilla Brantsing: Institute of Biomedicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, University of Gothenburg
Theodoros Kalogeropoulos: 3D Bioprinting Center, Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology
Samantha Zaunz: 3D Bioprinting Center, Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology
Sebastian Concaro: Cartilage Repair Unit, University of Gothenburg, Region Halland Orthopaedics, Kungsbacka Hospital
Mats Brittberg: Cartilage Repair Unit, University of Gothenburg, Region Halland Orthopaedics, Kungsbacka Hospital
Anders Lindahl: Institute of Biomedicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, University of Gothenburg
Paul Gatenholm: 3D Bioprinting Center, Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology
Annika Enejder: Chemical Biology, Dept. of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology
Stina Simonsson: Institute of Biomedicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, University of Gothenburg

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-00690-y
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

Read online

Cartilage lesions can progress into secondary osteoarthritis and cause severe clinical problems in numerous patients. As a prospective treatment of such lesions, human-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were shown to be 3D bioprinted into cartilage mimics using a nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) composite bioink when co-printed with irradiated human chondrocytes. Two bioinks were investigated: NFC with alginate (NFC/A) or hyaluronic acid (NFC/HA). Low proliferation and phenotypic changes away from pluripotency were seen in the case of NFC/HA. However, in the case of the 3D-bioprinted NFC/A (60/40, dry weight % ratio) constructs, pluripotency was initially maintained, and after five weeks, hyaline-like cartilaginous tissue with collagen type II expression and lacking tumorigenic Oct4 expression was observed in 3D -bioprinted NFC/A (60/40, dry weight % relation) constructs. Moreover, a marked increase in cell number within the cartilaginous tissue was detected by 2-photon fluorescence microscopy, indicating the importance of high cell densities in the pursuit of achieving good survival after printing. We conclude that NFC/A bioink is suitable for bioprinting iPSCs to support cartilage production in co-cultures with irradiated chondrocytes.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

About the journal