Fiber-Based Mini Tissue with Morphology-Controllable GelMA Microfibers.

The use of microscale fibers could facilitate nutrient diffusion in fiber-based tissue engineering and improve cell survival. However, in order to build a functional mini tissue such as muscle fibers, nerve conduits, and blood vessels, hydrogel microfibers should not only mimic the structural features of native tissues but also offer a cell-favorable environment and sufficient strength for tissue functionalization. Therefore, an important goal is to fabricate morphology-controllable microfibers with appropriate hydrogel materials to mimic the structural and functional complexity of native tissues. Here, gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) is used as the fiber material due to its excellent biological performance, and a novel coaxial bioprinting method is developed to fabricate morphology-controllable GelMA microfibers encapsulated in calcium alginate. By adjusting the flow rates, GelMA microfibers with straight, wavy, and helical morphologies could be obtained. By varying the coaxial nozzle design, more complex GelMA microfibers such as Janus, multilayered, and double helix structures could be fabricated. Using these microfibers, mini tissues containing human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells are built, in which cells gradually migrate and connect to form lumen resembling blood vessels. The merits of cytocompatibility, structural diversity, and mechanical tunability of the versatile microfibers may open more avenues for further biomedical research.