FRESH 3D Bioprinting of Trachea Scaffolds Using Decellularized Extracellular Matrix

Summary: Approximately 2% of children are born with a congenital airway malformation and still more develop tracheal defects from disease or trauma (1). Often it is necessary to replace a segment of the trachea to restore airway function, but current treatment options are limited and often fail to provide lasting airway patency without repeated surgical interventions. An ideal tracheal graft would be patient specific and be able to grow with the patient to avoid repeat surgeries. To address this challenge, we developed a decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) bioink to 3D bioprint an acellular trachea scaffold. Our goal was to recapitulate the necessary mechanical and biological properties to support cell function and physiological forces, thereby providing a first step towards patient-specific, anatomically accurate tracheal grafts that could grow with patients as they age.