A team of researchers at Stony Brook University, led by Michael Mak, PhD, has introduced a new bioprinting method named TRACE (Tunable Rapid Assembly of Collagenous Elements). This development addresses previous challenges in bioprinting natural body materials and could advance fields such as drug development, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine. The details are published in Nature Materials.
Bioprinting involves the precise positioning of biochemicals, biological materials, and living cells to create bioengineered structures. This process uses bioinks and biomaterials with 3D printing techniques to construct living tissue models for medical research. Although 3D printing is relatively new in medicine, it has significant applications in other industries like automotive manufacturing.
Researchers have faced difficulties in achieving functionality in bioprinted tissues because traditional methods often result in cells that cannot perform their natural activities. Mak's team hopes TRACE will address this issue.
Michael Mak explains: “Our method is essentially a novel platform technology that can be used to print wide-ranging tissue and organ types.” He adds that TRACE allows for the fabrication of complex tissue structures using collagen as bioinks, which are highly biocompatible and incorporate living cells directly.
Collagen is a major protein in the human body, serving as a building block for various tissues and organs. It acts as a scaffold holding cells and tissues together while directing cellular functions. Due to these properties, collagen is considered an ideal candidate for use as a bioink material.
The paper titled “Instant Assembly of Collagen for Tissue Engineering and Bioprinting” describes how TRACE accelerates the gelation process of collagen through macromolecular crowding. This technique speeds up the assembly reaction of collagen molecules, enabling the creation of tissues composed of elements found naturally within the body. TRACE has been applied to generate functional tissues and "mini organs" like heart chambers.
Mak concludes: “TRACE offers a versatile biofabrication platform, enabling direct 3D printing of physiological materials and living tissues, achieving both structural complexity and biofunctionality.”