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International Journal of Bioprinting Microfluidic spinning for neural models

reduced compared to that in HUVECs, consistent with the Health Leading Academic Discipline Project (grant no.
results of the diffusion experiments, where the presence 2022-F04).
of HUVECs would, to some extent, block the entry of
NGF into the 3D culture microenvironment of PC12 cells, Conflict of interest
leading to reduced differentiation. To further verify this The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
result, we examined the gene expression of GAP-43 and
TH using real-time qPCR. The results showed that GAP-43 Author contributions
was obviously expressed in NGF+ HUVEC- group, but not
detected in NGF- HUVEC- group and NGF+ HUVEC+ Conceptualization: Jingyun Ma, Xinghua Gao
(Ct > 40) (Figure 6E). Also, the expression level of TH gene Formal analysis: Wei Li, Lingling Tian
in NGF+ HUVEC+ group was significantly lower than that Funding acquisition: Jingyun Ma
in NGF+ HUVEC- group, and no TH gene was detected Investigation: Wei Li, Lingling Tian
in NGF- HUVEC- group, which indirectly reflected the Supervision: Jingyun Ma, Xinghua Gao
barrier effect of vascular endothelium. Moreover, it is Visualization: Xinghua Gao
possible to construct an experimental neural model by Writing – original draft: Lingling Tian, Jingyun Ma
assembling cell-loaded hollow microfibers in a microchip, Writing – review & editing: Jingyun Ma, Xinghua Gao
thereby realizing the 3D culture of neural-related cells.
The HUVECs-loaded hollow fibers, which possess barrier Ethics approval and consent to participate
effect, hold application potential in in vitro blood–brain Not applicable.
barrier simulation, neuropharmaceutical and toxin
evaluation, and brain-on-a-chip construction. Consent for publication
4. Conclusion Not applicable.

In this study, we used 3D printing technology to prepare Availability of data
microchip templates and obtain microfluidic chips, which
allowed the successful manufacture of CaA/GelMA composite The data that support the findings of this study are available
microfibers with different numbers of hollow lumens using from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
microfluidic spinning microchips coupled with different
flow injection strategies. The compositions and structures References
of the composite microfibers were characterized using FTIR
spectroscopy and scanning confocal microscopy. HUVECs 1. Colosi C, Shin SR, Manoharan V, et al. Microfluidic
were seeded and cultured in CaA/GelMA composite hollow bioprinting of heterogeneous 3D tissue constructs using
microfiber tube walls, and the cell viability and expression low-viscosity bioink. Adv Mater. 2016;28(4):677-684.
of related biomarkers of vascular endothelialization were doi: 10.1002/adma.201503310
assessed. Finally, by assembling HUVEC-loaded hollow 2. Xiao Y, Yang C, Guo B, et al. Bioinspired strong and
microfibers into assembly microchips, an in vitro neural tough organic–inorganic hybrid fibers. Small Struct.
differentiation model, capable of detecting axonal length, 2023;4(10):2300080.
tubulin, and related gene (GAP-43 and TH) expression in doi: 10.1002/sstr.202300080
PC12 under the action of NGF, was constructed. This model 3. Shao L, Gao Q, Xie C, Fu J, Xiang M, He Y. Bioprinting of
is expected to provide a new platform for investigating cell-laden microfiber: can it become a standard product?
the occurrence and development of neurological diseases Adv Healthc Mater. 2019;8(9):1900014.
and evaluating new drugs and toxins, with promising doi: 10.1002/adhm.201900014
applications in in vitro blood–brain barrier simulation and 4. Zhang YS, Arneri A, Bersini S, et al. Bioprinting 3D
organ-on-a-chip construction. microfibrous scaffolds for engineering endothelialized
myocardium and heart-on-a-chip. Biomaterials.
Acknowledgments 2016;110:45-59.
doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.09.003
None.
5. Jiao J, Wang F, Huang J-J, et al. Microfluidic hollow fiber with
Funding improved stiffness repairs peripheral nerve injury through
non-invasive electromagnetic induction and controlled
This work was supported by the Ningbo Natural Science release of NGF. Chem Eng J. 2021;426:131826.
Foundation (grant no. 2022J252) and Ningbo Medical and doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2021.131826

Volume 10 Issue 2 (2024) 276 doi: 10.36922/ijb.1797