Revolutionary 3D Bioprinting with Collagen Advances Vascularized Tissue Development

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have made significant progress in the field of tissue engineering by utilizing innovative 3D bioprinting techniques to create vascularized tissues solely from collagen, an essential protein in the human body. Using their groundbreaking Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH) technology, the Feinberg lab has developed a first-of-its-kind microphysiologic system entirely composed of collagen. This represents a major leap in biofabrication, allowing for the construction of complex, biologically native tissue models that closely mimic real human physiology.

Traditional approaches to developing tissue models often relied on synthetic materials like silicone rubber and plastics, which do not naturally occur in the body and can limit biological function. In contrast, collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, providing structural support across virtually all tissues and organs. By leveraging the FRESH bioprinting system, scientists can now fabricate soft, living tissues with high resolution and structural fidelity, enabling more accurate disease models and therapeutic tissues.

In their latest research, published in Science Advances, the team successfully created fully vascularized tissues that resemble pancreatic tissue, which could eventually be used in treating type 1 diabetes. This was achieved by integrating multi-material 3D bioprinting of extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors, and cell-laden bioinks into a custom bioreactor platform. The resulting centimeter-scale tissue constructs demonstrated glucose-stimulated insulin production, surpassing existing organoid models.

The technology builds upon previous work where blood vessel-like channels of about 100 microns in diameter were produced with high precision. Key advancements in the FRESH process include a single-step fabrication method that allows for complex designs and improved resolution, leading to perfusable collagen-based scaffolds. These innovations open new possibilities for creating functional, vascularized tissues for regenerative medicine.

FluidForm Bio, a startup spun out from Carnegie Mellon University, is currently commercializing this technology. Their team has already demonstrated in animal models that transplanted tissues created with this method can cure type 1 diabetes. Plans are underway for clinical trials involving human patients within the coming years.

Lead researcher Adam Feinberg emphasized the importance of collaborative, interdisciplinary science in achieving these breakthroughs, as well as the potential for integrating computational modeling and machine learning to optimize tissue design. The team is committed to sharing open-source designs to accelerate broad adoption and further development in tissue engineering fields.

As research progresses, scientists hope that this platform will serve as a foundation for constructing increasingly complex, vascularized tissues for various medical applications, paving the way toward more effective regenerative therapies and disease modeling methods.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-3d-bioprinting-collagen-vascularized-tissue.html