# Programmable multimaterial bioprinting of 3D vascularized tissue constructs

> **NIH NIH R21** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $245,590

## Abstract

Project Summary
In vitro development of highly organized and vascularized three-dimensional (3D) tissue constructs is of great
importance in tissue engineering, since native muscle tissues exhibit highly organized 3D complex
architectures composed of an extracellular matrix (ECM), different cell types, and chemical and physical
signaling cues. Bioprinting has emerged as a new technology to develop highly complex, 3D structures;
however, there are many remaining challenges, such as the necessity for precise positioning/switching of
different cell-types and materials to create multi-cellular 3D structures with various sizes, and creating patterns
that resemble the physical properties of in vivo environments. To address these challenges, we plan to develop
an embedded multi-material bioprinting (EMB) technology that employs a self-healing supporting hydrogel and
a programmable microfluidic device. The multi-material bioprinting (MB) system can be developed by
integration of a direct-write 3D bioprinting system with a high precision, programmable microfluidic printhead,
which can easily and quickly switch between different materials, reagents and cells. The multi-axial extrusion
systems are able to create multi-scale microfibers for muscle bundles and perfusable blood vessel networks to
mimic the mechanical properties and architecture of their spatially organized natural counterparts. While it is
difficult to precisely control the materials’ position in Z directions to create freestanding hydrogel architectures,
we will improve the high print fidelity of the MB system by combining an embedded 3D bioprinting technology
by using a self-healing supporting hydrogel. In addition, the supporting hydrogel will be able to achieve fast
deposition of the desired pre-polymer solution in X-Y-Z directions without additional gelation processing. By
combining this embedded printing strategy with the microfluidic device incorporated MB technology, it will allow
us to print multi-component/multi-cellular tissue constructs with biologically relevant architectures and
characteristics that are difficult or impossible to bioprint at present. Furthermore, the use of a cell-laden bioink,
which mimics the mechanical and biological properties of muscle tissue, can act as a platform to promote
differentiation and maturation of muscle precursors, as well as improved contractile activity. It is envisioned
that the successful development of this project will have a significant impact on the ability to heal muscle
trauma as well as to advance the field of muscle tissue engineering. Furthermore, this process can be readily
applied to other areas of regenerative medicine to generate new organs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9971539
- **Project number:** 5R21EB026824-03
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Su Ryon Shin
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $245,590
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-20 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9971539

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9971539, Programmable multimaterial bioprinting of 3D vascularized tissue constructs (5R21EB026824-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9971539. Licensed CC0.

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