Bioprinting of spheroid-based cartilage constructs: from engineering to biological optimization aspects

The replacement of damaged, diseased, or non-functional organs and tissues through tissue engineering is still a challenge. Within this context, recent advances in the 3D bioprinting processes have allowed the manufacture of biocompatible constructs associated with cells and bioactive molecules. Tissue maturation is more advanced using stem cell aggregates compared to single cells in suspension, and these cell aggregates act as building blocks to manufacture larger tissues. Evaluating this approach to obtain cartilage tissue is of great interest since the cartilaginous tissue has low self-repair capacity and the lesions often progress to the development of various pathological conditions in an irreversible way. In this scenario, the present thesis aimed at obtaining cartilage constructs through a 3D bioprinting process, combining stem cell aggregates and a natural hydrogel, followed by a post-printing differentiation process. Overall, the results show the potential of an effective approach to obtain tissue constructs to be applied in the biofabrication of cartilage tissue, as well as in the study of models of cartilage disease, such as osteoarthritis