A pilot study of three dimensional printing of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs)

PURPOSE: To establish a three-dimensional biological printing technique of hBMSCs. METHODS: The hBMSCs were regularly isolated and cultured, and adjusted to the density of 1×106/mL single cell suspension. Then these cells were labeled by PI fluorescence marker, and transferred by rapid prototype biological printer. Deposition spots were 300μm apart at X-axis, 500μm at Y-axis, 50μm at Z-axis, and then observed by laser confocal microscope. RESULTS: This technique could deposit cells with good spatial control. In three-dimensional layer, each "cell ink" drop contained 15-35 hBMSCs post-transfer, and achieved accurate distribution with spots distributed 300μm apart at x-axis, 500μm at y-axis and 50μm at Z-axis. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that hBMSCs can be effectively delivered by a rapid prototype printer with speed and accuracy.Application of three dimensional printing is of great importance in tissue engineering bone.