Figure 6.

3D bioprinting of chondrocytes, cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) into living tissues/organs using a pioneering 3D bioprinter made in Prof. Wang’s laboratory at Tsinghua University: (a) the pioneering 3D bioprinter; (b) schematic description of a cell-laden gelatin-based hydrogel being printed into an one-layer grid lattice using the 3D bioprinter; (c) schematic description of the cell-laden gelatin-based hydrogel being printed into large-scale 3D construct using the 3D bioprinter; (d) 3D printing process of a chondrocyte-laden gelatin-based construct; (e) a grid 3D construct made from a cardiomyocyte-laden gelatin-based hydrogel; (f) hepatocytes encapsulated in a gelatin-based hydrogel after 3D printing; (g) hepatocytes in a gelatin-based hydrogel after 3D printing; (h) a gelatin-based hydrogel after 3D printing; (i) hepatocytes in a 3D printed construct after a certain period of in vitro culture; (j) a magnified photo of (i); (k) the shape of the hepatocyte-laden grid construct maintained well after certain period of in vitro culture; (l) a magnified photo of (k), showing hepatocytes formed vortex in the hydrogel; (m) hepatocytes in a 3D printed construct after a longer period of in vitro culture; (n) a magnified photo of (m), showing the vortex structure was still there; (o) immunostaining of the hepatocyte-laden 3D construct after certain period of in vitro culture, showing new hepatic tissue formed in the gelatin-based hydrogel with close cell-cell connection or tight junction; (p) a dark-field microscopy of (o). Images reproduced with permission from [7,22].