3D Bioprinting of Multicellular Constructs for the Development of Vascularized Skin Grafts

3D Bioprinting of Multicellular Constructs for the Development of Vascularized Skin Grafts

Internship Description

3D bioprinting technology has gained significant interest in biomedical engineering and regenerative medicine applications. However, current 3D bioprinting technologies utilize animal-based, plant-based, or synthetic polymer bioinks, which lowers biocompatibility with the patient. Additionally, the existing bioprinters use UV light or chemical treatment to polymerize the inks to form gels, which may cause unwanted mutations and faulty expressions of genes within the printed cells. The Laboratory for Nanomedicine at KAUST has developed a new technique which combines peptide-based bioinks and a robotic arm-based system for 3D bioprinting under true physiological conditions without any use of harsh physico-chemical methods. This project involves the development of vascularized skin grafts via 3D bioprinting of multicellular constructs for applications in the diabetic wound healing. Ultrashort peptide bioinks will be used as scaffolds for 3D bioprinting of human skin grafts.​​

Deliverables/Expectations

​Mastering 3D bioprinting using a commercial and a newly developed robotic 3D bioprinter (Hauser), Computational analysis of 3D bioprinting efficiency (Michels), creation of peptide bioinks (Hauser), developing skin grafts as a multicellular construct​

Faculty Name

Dominik L Michels

Field of Study

​3D bioprinting, biomedical engineering, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, vascularized skin grafts