3D-Printed Hydrogel Technologies for Tissue-Engineered Heart Valves

Presented here is an overview of a 3D bioprinting approach that generates complex 3D geometry tissue constructs using extrudable materials and encapsulated cells based on native aortic valve tissue heterogeneity. As a fabrication strategy 3D printing overcomes the geometric limitations associated with classical heart valve tissue engineering scaffold assembly strategies. Experiments were conducted to establish photoencapsulation and fabrication parameter ranges tolerated by valve and mesenchymal stem cells, thereby enabling direct cell-hydrogel printing with optimal capacity for geometric control. Additionally, a dynamic conditioning system was designed specifically for the culture of 3D bioprinted valves. These studies indicate that bioprinted valves with encapsulated mesenchymal stem cells can be produced with high viability for the purposes of a tissue engineered heart valve or with primary aortic valve cells for the purpose of in vitro testing and mechanistic studies.