# Rapid 3D-printing of Multi-functional Adaptive Nerve Conduits

> **NIH NIH R33** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $358,487

## Abstract

Rapid 3D-printing of Multi-functional Adaptive Nerve Conduits
The PIs propose to develop an innovative platform for the fabrication of 3-dimensional (3D) nerve conduits
with precise spatial and temporal distribution of biological factors (growth factors, neuron stem cells and
extracellular matrix (ECM)). This rapid 3D printing platform employs a dynamic mask for
photopolymerization of an entire layer simultaneously without scanning and create 3D conduits
continuously, resulting in 1,000 times faster in printing speed and 100 times better in printing resolution
compared to traditional nozzle-based 3D printers. Hyaluronic acid (HA), an ECM component, will be
modified for 3D printing. HA is a long-chain sugar-like molecule shown to be compatible with wound healing
and nerve regeneration. Because it is naturally occurring in the body and has negligible inter-species
variation, HA is an excellent candidate biomaterial to use for nerve conduits. Neuron stem cells and growth
factors will be printed in the conduits to aid nerve repair.
 In the R21 phase, the PIs will develop the rapid 3D printing system, synthesize the HA materials and
characterize the 3D printed HA conduits. The team will then implement these nerve conduits into mice to
demonstrate growth of the nerve fibers along the bore of the conduit from proximal to distal end and also
demonstrate reduction in time to functional recovery due to conduit-assisted growth and regeneration of the
nerve fiber. Upon successful completion of these tasks and milestones in the R21 phase, subsequent work
in the R33 phase will further develop the rapid 3D printing process to create "designer" nerve conduits with
precise spatio-temporal control of physical, chemical, and biological properties and use such designer
conduits for in vivo animal studies. The concepts and techniques developed herein would allow us to create
precise, pre-designed distributions of growth factors and neuron stem cells with microscale resolution and
enable us to investigate their effects on nerve cell guidance inside a conduit with complex architectures.
 The project will be carried out by a team of collaborative talents, including Dr. Chen who is a leading
expert in 3D printing and a pioneer in bioprinting, and Dr. Nguyen who is a is board certified in both Head
and Neck Surgery and Neurotology/Skull Base Surgery and is the Director of the Facial Nerve Clinic at UC
San Diego. Dr. Nguyen has a clinical practice specializing in facial nerve paralysis and brings both clinical
expertise as well as basic science research experience to this project.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9949382
- **Project number:** 5R33HD090662-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** SHAOCHEN CHEN
- **Activity code:** R33 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $358,487
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-02-07 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9949382

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9949382, Rapid 3D-printing of Multi-functional Adaptive Nerve Conduits (5R33HD090662-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9949382. Licensed CC0.

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