In Situ Printing - An Alternative Three Dimensional Laden Structure Fabrication Method

Recapitulating a structure that mimics the anatomic geometries and intratissue cell distribution as in live organism is a major challenge of tissue engineering nowadays. Solid freeform fabrication (SFF) has been demonstrated as an efficient tool for this purpose. In this paper we presented a SFF based in situ printing method that is free of fabrication time frame and fabrication environment constrains. The fabrication parameters on strut formability, fabricated structural stability against gentle fluidic disturbance, and the integrity of the fabricated structure in cell culture environment were studied to assess the potential of the fabrication method on biomedical application. Based on the results, controlled strut formability can be achieved in an appropriate cross-linking deposition range. Alginate composition is the main parameter that dominates the stability and integrity of the fabricated structure. A parameter set that can produce a stable scaffold with the ability to maintain its structure in cell culture environment for at least 15 days was optimized.