Tissue Architecture based on Robotics Manipulation and Functional Artificial Extracellular Matrix

Abstract

Ex vivo fabrication of functional tissue composed of cells and extracellular matrix (ECMs) needs precise region-specific positioning of these biological substances. To this end, we utilized two technologies; one is a cell-dispenser robot which enables to place cells at a given position and at a given depth of ECM gel. The other is artificial ECMs which are soluble in aqueous solutions but are gelled upon photochemical crosslinking or thermal phase transition. Using these techniques, endothelial cell aggregates, which are capillary-like network, are formed on and in photocured gelatinous gels. Three prototype models are presented.