3D bioprinting with cell derived extracellular matrix based bioink

3D bioprinting technology is seen as a promising technology for tissue engineering researches in the future. Today, it is not possible to produce tissues and organs with different cell types and cell densities. One of the main challenges of inability of creating complex tissues with a 3D bioprinter is that different cell types require different extracellular environments. This extracellular environment is called the extrecellular matrix (ECM). ECM is a vast network of proteins and signaling molecules that surround, support, and gives shape to the cells and tissues in the body. The extracellular matrix helps cells connect and communicate with other cells in their environment. It plays an important role in cell growth, cell movement, and other cell functions. In the 3D bioprinting method, the main goal is mimicking the extracellular environment with the help of natural or synthetic polymers called bioinks. A well-designed bioink should support the growth, proliferation and differentiation of cells within the 3D printed structure. Therefore, the idea of using natural tissues in bioink design by decellularization has gained importance recently. The ECM can be obtained with removal of cells. Procedure is called decellularization. Decelularized ECM is called extracellular matrix (dECM). Bioinks that use dECM in their preparation are called dECM-based bioinks. The tissue-specific complex compositions of such bioinks provide the best biochemical environment for cells. In this research, a bioink was prepared by obtaining the intercellular matrix from 2-dimensional (2D) cell culture instead of natural tissues. The effect of this prepared dECM-based bioink on the cells in the 3D printed structure was observed.