4 Notes
1. Several commercial or custom motion control systems can be
adapted to direct-write deposition process. Please refer to [12]
for an example of a custom-built apparatus.
2. This piece of equipment shall be customized upon the dimensions of the chosen syringe system to provide firm handling and
homogeneous heating. Depending on the hydrogel composition, the use of an additional heated plate (set at 36–38
C) as a
holder for the printing substrate could be helpful to stabilize
the gel structure after printing.
3. It is advisable to perform stepwise addition (5 or more aliquots)
of Pluronic F127. Complete dissolution can take several hours.
4. The process can be adapted to different cell types, and the
reported use of HDFs should be intended as a representative
example. Given the mild conditions used in the processing
method for preparing cell-laden constructs, the bioink can be
supplemented with biomolecules of interests (e.g., growth
factors).
Fig. 2 Schematization of construct architectures (a), macrographs (b), and fluorescence micrographs (c) of the
cell-laden constructs for two different geometries. HDF cells were labeled with PKH26 red-fluorescent dye.
Scale bar: 500 μm
Direct-Write Deposition of Thermogels
141
1. Several commercial or custom motion control systems can be
adapted to direct-write deposition process. Please refer to [12]
for an example of a custom-built apparatus.
2. This piece of equipment shall be customized upon the dimensions of the chosen syringe system to provide firm handling and
homogeneous heating. Depending on the hydrogel composition, the use of an additional heated plate (set at 36–38
C) as a
holder for the printing substrate could be helpful to stabilize
the gel structure after printing.
3. It is advisable to perform stepwise addition (5 or more aliquots)
of Pluronic F127. Complete dissolution can take several hours.
4. The process can be adapted to different cell types, and the
reported use of HDFs should be intended as a representative
example. Given the mild conditions used in the processing
method for preparing cell-laden constructs, the bioink can be
supplemented with biomolecules of interests (e.g., growth
factors).
Fig. 2 Schematization of construct architectures (a), macrographs (b), and fluorescence micrographs (c) of the
cell-laden constructs for two different geometries. HDF cells were labeled with PKH26 red-fluorescent dye.
Scale bar: 500 μm
Direct-Write Deposition of Thermogels
141