Mechanical properties of 3D bioprinted dermis: characterization and improvement

Bioprinting is a promising way to create native-equivalent tissues for skin replacement in several pathologies and trauma. These last few years, various constructs have been reported, composed of fibroblasts and keratinocytes used to recapitulate the dermo-epidermal structure. However, the ability to control and characterize the mechanical properties of such constructs is a critical point to insure the transfer of these engineered products to clinic in a near future. In the present study, we had investigated the modulation of the biomechanics of a bioprinted dermis model through physical constrain during tissue maturation. Two passive tension devices were then designed and tested to mature the tissue after printing. Decrease in tissue retraction and increase of collagen I densities, associated to modulations of Young’s modulus were obtained after 20 days of tissue maturation. Taken together, these results attest for the first time in literature of promising methods to modulate the mechanical properties of bioprinted skin models.