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International Journal of Bioprinting Biomechanical mimic-based artificial oviduct system

3.4. Effect of the 3D-bioprinted gelatin biomechanical environment for mammalian zygote culture
methacryloyl hydrogel culture system on blastocyst dish systems.
developmental competency The oviduct is an important component of the
Assessment of preimplantation embryo development in female reproductive system and is essential for biological
the hydrogel culture system revealed that most zygotes and chemical support of the fertilization site and
progressed to the blastocyst stage within the expected preimplantation embryo development to achieve a
timeframe (Figure 3C). To assess the effect of the hydrogel healthy pregnancy. The mechanical status of the oviduct
platform on blastocyst quality, we measured the total and its role in preimplantation embryo development
number of cells in the ICM in zygote-derived blastocysts is incompletely understood. For example, the optimal
cultured for 96 h. Immunostaining of OCT3/4 and CDX2 mechanical properties for embryonic development and
revealed increased blastocyst ICM cell numbers in the 10% associated gene expression depend on the mechanical
hydrogel group (12 ± 2.8) compared with the control group stiffness of the environment. Prior reports suggest that
(8.8 ± 1.09) (Figure 5). the mechanical properties of the oviduct significantly
4. Discussion impact preimplantation embryo development. The oviduct
provides a physical environment that supports the growth
In the present study, the development speed and blastocyst and development of the embryo and maintains proper
ratios of preimplantation embryos were higher in the biomechanical conditions. Biomechanical properties
6
biomechanical environment provided by the GelMA of the oviduct, such as stiffness and viscosity, affect
hydrogel platform than those in the conventional tissue multiple aspects of embryo development, including
culture dish. Embryo ICM ratios were also higher relative the expression of mRNA metabolism genes and several
to the control. Changing the biomechanical properties transporter regulator genes, and cell behavior. Changes
of the culture environment to recapitulate the soft tissue in the mechanical properties of the oviduct can also affect
environment of the oviduct affected the expression of cell differentiation and the development of specific cell
several biological processing and cellular functional gene types, such as the trophectoderm that ultimately forms
sets during embryo development. Hence, using GelMA the placenta. The mechanical properties of the oviduct
as a biomaterial could potentially emulate the oviduct affect the overall shape and organization of the developing

Figure 5. Expression of OCT3/4 and CDX2 in blastocysts developed on the 3D-bioprinted hydrogel culture system. (A) Confocal microscopy images
illustrating inner cell mass (ICM; green) and trophectoderm cells (TE; red) of blastocysts cultured on the hydrogel culture system and immunostained
with anti-OCT3/4 and anti-CDX2. Scale bar: 20 µm. (B) Bar graph depicting the quantified number of ICM derived from the images in (A). The number
of ICM cells (green) was compared between groups. *p < 0.05. Abbreviation: Con, Control.

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 454 doi: 10.36922/ijb.3346