| Abstract Scope |
In engineering biological substitutes for soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and menisci, recapitulating the multi-scale fibrous architecture that is critical to the tissues’ biomechanical functions is essential. This talk will summarize our efforts to achieve such organizational biomimicry using different direct and indirect additive biofabrication strategies. As an example, the design of a recently developed hybrid bioprinting process, which employs ultrasonic bulk acoustic waves to pattern cells and structural cues with layer-wise control in 3D constructs will be highlighted. Results of material-process-structure-function characterization during the processing of composite 3D constructs with highly-aligned organization will be discussed. Finally, the integration of this process with stereolithography and extrusion printing to create soft tissue constructs with perfusable channels that are of high relevance to the engineering of vascular organs will be presented. |