Method of printing a tissue construct with embedded vasculature

Abstract

A printed tissue construct comprises one or more tissue patterns, where each tissue pattern comprises a plurality of viable cells of one or more predetermined cell types. A network of vascular channels interpenetrates the one or more tissue patterns. An extracellular matrix composition at least partially surrounds the one or more tissue patterns and the network of vascular channels. A method of printing a tissue construct with embedded vasculature comprises depositing one or more cell-laden filaments, each comprising a plurality of viable cells, on a substrate to form one or more tissue patterns. Each of the one or more tissue patterns comprises one or more predetermined cell types. One or more sacrificial filaments, each comprising a fugitive ink, are deposited on the substrate to form a vascular pattern interpenetrating the one or more tissue patterns. The vascular pattern and the one or more tissue patterns are at least partially surrounded with an extracellular matrix composition. The fugitive ink is then removed to create vascular channels in the extracellular matrix composition, thereby forming an interpenetrating vascular network in a tissue construct.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.