The project aims to develop a method for 3D printing blood vessels based on a scaffold-free platform using needle-array, a method that was successfully tested by Manabu Itoh’s research group in 2015. Instead of using HiPSC cells or commercial cell lines, the project isolates MUSE (multilineage-differentiating stress enduring) cells from adult stem cell sources and differentiates into human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC), human normal dermal fibroblasts (HNDFB), and human vein endothelial cells (HVEC).
The project hopes that this research will develop a process for isolating and proliferating MUSE cells, a 3D printing technology for artificial blood vessels that is functional, safe and convenient for the treatment of CDVs by means of implantation method which can replace current grafting techniques that are risky, expensive and ineffective.
Project goals:
- Develop MUSE stem cell isolation and proliferation process from human adult stem cell sources
- Develop a mold-free 3D bioprinting technique for application in creating artificial tube-like biological structures
- Apply mold-free 3D bioprinting technology with biological materials from MUSE stem cells in creating artificial blood vessels
Impact:
MUSE cells are a potential type of stem cell with outstanding advantages over mesenchymal stem cells. However, the biggest disadvantage of this type of stem cell is that its quantity is very limited, and the ability to maintain the cell’s original characteristics during culture is extremely difficult due to its tendency to differentiate and self-control the number of stem cells in the population. Therefore, developing an effective isolation and proliferation process for MUSE stem cells is truly of great significance in opening up a safe, multi-potential source of stem cells that can be applied in human health care.
3D printing technology using biological materials is one of the key technologies of the artificial intelligence era. Creating tissues and organs compatible with each individual for replacement transplants without using any invasive measures to obtain materials or wasting time searching for suitable donors is an important goal and destination of Regenerative Medicine. If this research is successfully implemented, it will contribute to the development of a modern technology integrating advanced technologies from the fields of Medicine, Biology, Materials and artificial intelligence, respectively artificial tissue/organ transplantation technology, MUSE stem cell technology, tissue and organ regeneration technology from biomaterials, and computer technology in 3D printing.
