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Kontakis MG, Moulin M, Andersson B, Norein N, Samanta A, Stelzl C, Engberg A, Diez-Escudero A, Kreuger J, Hailer NP. Trabecular-bone mimicking osteoconductive collagen scaffolds: an optimized 3D printing approach using freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels. 3D Print Med 2025; 11:11. [PMID: 40064747 PMCID: PMC11895158 DOI: 10.1186/s41205-025-00255-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2025] [Indexed: 03/14/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Technological constraints limit 3D printing of collagen structures with complex trabecular shapes. However, the Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH) method may allow for precise 3D printing of porous collagen scaffolds that carry the potential for repairing critical size bone defects. METHODS Collagen type I scaffolds mimicking trabecular bone were fabricated through FRESH 3D printing and compared either with 2D collagen coatings or with 3D-printed polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) scaffolds. The porosity of the printed scaffolds was visualized by confocal microscopy, the surface geometry of the scaffolds was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their mechanical properties were assessed with a rheometer. The osteoconductive properties of the different scaffolds were evaluated for up to four weeks by seeding and propagation of primary human osteoblasts (hOBs) or SaOS-2 cells. Intracellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were measured, and cells colonizing scaffolds were stained for osteocalcin (OCN). RESULTS The FRESH technique enables printing of constructs at the millimetre scale using highly concentrated collagen, and the creation of stable trabecular structures that can support the growth osteogenic cells. FRESH-printed collagen scaffolds displayed an intricate and fibrous 3D network, as visualized by SEM, whereas the PEGDA scaffolds had a smooth surface. Amplitude sweep analyses revealed that the collagen scaffolds exhibited predominantly elastic behaviour, as indicated by higher storage modulus values relative to loss modulus values, while the degradation rate of collagen scaffolds was greater than PEGDA. The osteoconductive properties of collagen scaffolds were similar to those of PEGDA scaffolds but superior to 2D collagen, as verified by cell culture followed by analysis of ALP/LDH activity and OCN immunostaining. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that FRESH-printed collagen scaffolds exhibit favourable mechanical, degradation and osteoconductive properties, potentially outperforming synthetic polymers such as PEGDA in bone tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Kontakis
- OrthoLab, Department of Surgical Sciences/Orthopaedics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 85, Sweden.
| | - Marie Moulin
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 23, Sweden
| | - Brittmarie Andersson
- OrthoLab, Department of Surgical Sciences/Orthopaedics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 85, Sweden
| | - Norein Norein
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Macromolecular Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 21, Sweden
| | - Ayan Samanta
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Macromolecular Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 21, Sweden
| | - Christina Stelzl
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 23, Sweden
| | - Adam Engberg
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 23, Sweden
| | - Anna Diez-Escudero
- OrthoLab, Department of Surgical Sciences/Orthopaedics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 85, Sweden
| | - Johan Kreuger
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 23, Sweden
| | - Nils P Hailer
- OrthoLab, Department of Surgical Sciences/Orthopaedics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 85, Sweden
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Liu Y, Ge Y, Wu Y, Feng Y, Liu H, Cao W, Xie J, Zhang J. High-Voltage Electrostatic Field Hydrogel Microsphere 3D Culture System Improves Viability and Liver-like Properties of HepG2 Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1081. [PMID: 38256154 PMCID: PMC10816196 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) hepatocyte models have become a research hotspot for evaluating drug metabolism and hepatotoxicity. Compared to two-dimensional (2D) cultures, 3D cultures are better at mimicking the morphology and microenvironment of hepatocytes in vivo. However, commonly used 3D culture techniques are not suitable for high-throughput drug screening (HTS) due to their high cost, complex handling, and inability to simulate cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. This article describes a method for rapid and reproducible 3D cell cultures with ECM-cell interactions based on 3D culture instrumentation to provide more efficient HTS. We developed a microsphere preparation based on a high-voltage electrostatic (HVE) field and used sodium alginate- and collagen-based hydrogels as scaffolds for 3D cultures of HepG2 cells. The microsphere-generating device enables the rapid and reproducible preparation of bioactive hydrogel microspheres. This 3D culture system exhibited better cell viability, heterogeneity, and drug-metabolizing activity than 2D and other 3D culture models, and the long-term culture characteristics of this system make it suitable for predicting long-term liver toxicity. This system improves the overall applicability of HepG2 spheroids in safety assessment studies, and this simple and controllable high-throughput-compatible method shows potential for use in drug toxicity screening assays and mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; (Y.L.); (Y.W.)
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China; (Y.G.); (Y.F.); (H.L.); (W.C.); (J.X.)
| | - Yang Ge
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China; (Y.G.); (Y.F.); (H.L.); (W.C.); (J.X.)
| | - Yanfan Wu
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; (Y.L.); (Y.W.)
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China; (Y.G.); (Y.F.); (H.L.); (W.C.); (J.X.)
| | - Yongtong Feng
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China; (Y.G.); (Y.F.); (H.L.); (W.C.); (J.X.)
| | - Han Liu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China; (Y.G.); (Y.F.); (H.L.); (W.C.); (J.X.)
| | - Wei Cao
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China; (Y.G.); (Y.F.); (H.L.); (W.C.); (J.X.)
| | - Jinsong Xie
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China; (Y.G.); (Y.F.); (H.L.); (W.C.); (J.X.)
| | - Jingzhong Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; (Y.L.); (Y.W.)
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China; (Y.G.); (Y.F.); (H.L.); (W.C.); (J.X.)
- School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
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