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In Situ Printing of Adhesive Hydrogel Scaffolds for the Treatment of Skeletal Muscle Injuries
journal contribution
posted on 2020-02-24, 13:06 authored by Carina S. Russell, Azadeh Mostafavi, Jacob P. Quint, Adriana C. Panayi, Kodi Baldino, Tyrell J. Williams, Jocelyn G. Daubendiek, Victor Hugo Sánchez, Zack Bonick, Mairon Trujillo-Miranda, Su Ryon Shin, Olivier Pourquie, Sahar Salehi, Indranil Sinha, Ali TamayolReconstructive
surgery remains inadequate for the treatment of volumetric muscle
loss (VML). The geometry of skeletal muscle defects in VML injuries
varies on a case-by-case basis. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has
emerged as one strategy that enables the fabrication of scaffolds
that match the geometry of the defect site. However, the time and
facilities needed for imaging the defect site, processing to render
computer models, and printing a suitable scaffold prevent immediate
reconstructive interventions post-traumatic injuries. In addition,
the proper implantation of hydrogel-based scaffolds, which have generated
promising results in vitro, is a major challenge.
To overcome these challenges, a paradigm is proposed in which gelatin-based
hydrogels are printed directly into the defect area and cross-linked in situ. The adhesiveness of the bioink hydrogel to the
skeletal muscles was assessed ex vivo. The suitability
of the in situ printed bioink for the delivery of
cells is successfully assessed in vitro. Acellular
scaffolds are directly printed into the defect site of mice with VML
injury, exhibiting proper adhesion to the surrounding tissue and promoting
remnant skeletal muscle hypertrophy. The developed handheld printer
capable of 3D in situ printing of adhesive scaffolds
is a paradigm shift in the rapid yet precise filling of complex skeletal
muscle tissue defects.