Three-dimensional bioprinting of thick vascularized tissues

Significance

Current tissue manufacturing methods fail to recapitulate the geometry, complexity, and longevity of human tissues. We report a multimaterial 3D bioprinting method that enables the creation of thick human tissues (>1 cm) replete with an engineered extracellular matrix, embedded vasculature, and multiple cell types. These 3D vascularized tissues can be actively perfused with growth factors for long durations (>6 wk) to promote differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells toward an osteogenic lineage in situ. The ability to construct and perfuse 3D tissues that integrate parenchyma, stroma, and endothelium is a foundational step toward creating human tissues for ex vivo and in vivo applications.