b2815 Tissue Engineering and Nanotheranostics “9.61x6.69”54 Tissue Engineering and Nanotheranostics
polymeric components into a hybrid construct can mimic the biologi-
cally and structurally supportive properties of cartilage, offering
promise for optimizing CTE strategies.
In 2015, Kundu et al. used a multihead deposition system (MHDS)
to fabricate 3D cell-printed scaffolds through layer-by-layer deposition
of PCL and chondrocyte cell-encapsulated alginate hydrogel.^29 The 3D
cell-printed scaffolds of PCL–alginate gel were implanted in the dorsal
subcutaneous spaces of female nude mice. Histochemical (Alcian blue
and haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining) and immunohisto-
chemical (collagen type II) analyses of the retrieved implants after
4 weeks revealed enhanced cartilage tissue and type II collagen fibril
formation in the PCL–alginate gel (+TGFβ) hybrid scaffold.^29
In 2016, Izadifar et al. demonstrated that bioprinting 3D hybrid
constructs of PCL and cell-impregnated alginate hydrogel is a prom-
ising approach for CTE (Fig. 2).^30 They evaluated the heat distribu-
tion of printed PCL strands and the rheological property and
structural stability of alginate hydrogels at various temperatures and
Fig. 2. Design and 3D bioprinting of hybrid constructs with structural and biologi-
cal features. (a) Schematic of designed 3D hybrid construct with alternating strands
of polycaprolactone (PCL) and chondrocyte-impregnated alginate in each layer, (b)
3D bioplotter system employed for biofabrication of designed hybrid constructs, and
(c) hybrid biofabrication using pneumatic dispenser heads.^30