Bioprinting-associated shear stress and hydrostatic pressure can negatively affect the functionality of dispensed cells. We hypothesized that these mechanical stimuli can potentially affect the angiogenic potential of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). A numerical simulation model was used to calculate the shear stress during microvalve-based droplet ejection. The impact of different levels of applied pressure and the resulting shear stress levels on the angiogenic potential of HUVECs was investigated after up to 14 days of cultivation. In vitro results showed that bioprinting-associated stress not only has short-term but also long-term effects. The short-term viability results indicate a 20% loss in post-printing cell viability in samples printed under the harshest conditions compared to those with the lowest shear stress level. Further, it was revealed that even in two-dimensional culture, HUVECs were able to form a capillary-like network organization regardless of bioprinting pressure. In three-dimensional culture experiments; however, the HUVECs printed at 3 bar were not able to form tubular structures due to their exposure to high shear stress levels. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into how the bioprinting process should be conducted to control printing-associated shear stress and hydrostatic pressure to preserve the functionality and angiogenetic potential of HUVEC.
Keywords: Angiogenesis; Bioprinting; Fluid-dynamic finite element analysis; Hydrostatic pressure; Shear stress.
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