Cell assembly system for fabricating viable three-dimensional constructs

A direct controlled cell assembling technique based on rapid prototyping technology was developed in our laboratory to fabricate pre-defined three-dimensional tissue-engineered construct with interconnected porosity and multi-cells. Based on this technique, a cell controlled assembler II has been developed in which cell/hydrogel was deposited layer-by-layer with a pressure-controlled syringe. It could create a wide variety of 3D patterns with different arrays of channels, while the interconnected channel allowed delivering nutrients and removing cell metabolites. When two pressure-controlled syringes were installed in this system, multi-types of cell/hydrogel could be deposited simultaneously to the pre-defined positions. This is the first time a cylindrical myocyte/hydrogel composite structure was prepared by this cell assembling system and processed for in vitro study. The results indicated that cardiac cells retained viable and showed normal proliferation and differentiation functions in the structure. This new system has the potential for eventual production of complex artificial human tissues and organs.