Biofabrication of a Heart Wall Section using the FRESH Bioprinting Method

This dissertation addresses the challenge of bioprinting cardiac wall tissues. It focuses on three different aspects. The first is around materials that mimic the different cardiac wall tissue layers by testing the different materials pre- and post-crosslinked for their characteristics and behaviour. Secondly, it explores the adaptation of a 3D printer for bioprinting using the FRESH bioprinting method, which utilizes a single extrusion point for multi-material printing. This printer came with a unique printhead design, allowing multiple materials to enter the chamber to print continuously. Lastly, it explores the 3D printing of hybrid tissue and the optimization of the printing process. The hybrid tissue creation started with two materials before moving to three materials for the cardiac wall.

The outcomes of this study The outcomes of the study such as the bioprinter that can print multiple material without leaving the print site and the materials which work as the anatomical heart wall layers, represent a significant step forward in the field of tissue and organ engineering, offering promising new directions for personalized medical treatments and advances for organ transplants by bridging the research gap between hybrid tissue bioprinting with specialized materials and a unique bioprinter that specializes in multi-material printing with better precision and material structure. This research lays the foundation for future advancements in the field of regenerative medicine.