IMPROVING FUNCTIONALITY OF LIVING TISSUE CONSTRUCTS BY EXPANDING THE APPLICABILITY OF MELT ELECTROWRITING

19/12/2023

On December 19, Madison Ainsworth defended her thesis "Improving functionality of living tissue constructs by expanding the applicability of melt electrowriting - Three-dimensional tissue regeneration guided by biochemical and structural cues using converged (bio)fabrication technologies". 

The global organ donor shortage persists due to a growing population, longer lifespans, and higher disease prevalence, leaving thousands of people waiting for life-saving organ transplants. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine provide solutions by creating functional tissues to replace damaged organs. Biofabrication technologies, such as 3D bioprinting, enable precise recreation of native-like tissue. In this thesis, melt electrowriting (MEW) was explored for use as a technology platform that can be adapted to different tissue types by integrating other novel technologies, investigating different aspects of steering regeneration using biochemical cues and using structural cues before delving into perspectives for clinical implementation.

This thesis investigates the use of MEW to improve tissue organization and locally deliver growth factors. Mechanical reinforcement is investigated using functionalization approaches between scaffolds and hydrogels in the context of articular cartilage tissue engineering. In addition, it investigates the effect of microscale structural signals for myocardial tissue and the creation of pre-vascular architectures within large tissues. It also covers tissue preservation techniques and steps to fabricate a full-thickness transmural tissue construct, with potential for advanced in vitro models.

These technological developments offer hope for generating functional tissues, ranging from cardiac muscle tissue to articular cartilage tissue, to address the shortage of organ donors.