Controlled packing and single-droplet resolution of 3D-printed functional synthetic tissues
Controlled packing and single-droplet resolution of 3D-printed functional synthetic tissues
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DOI：
10.1038/s41467-020-15953-y
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发表时间：
2020-04-30
影响因子：
16.6
通讯作者：
Bayley, Hagan
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Alcinesio, Alessandro;Meacock, Oliver J.;Bayley, Hagan
通过界面双层连接的液滴 3D 打印网络是构建合成组织的强大平台，其中功能依赖于精确有序的结构。然而，目前组装这些结构的结构精度和一致性受到限制，这限制了合成组织的复杂设计和功能的复杂性。在这里，我们报告一对液滴之间的平衡接触角 (theta (DIB)) 是一个关键参数，它决定了 3D 打印的多层网络中数百个皮升大小的液滴的镶嵌和精确定位。当 theta (DIB) 接近几何得出的临界角 (theta (c)) 35.3 度时，所得液滴网络排列成规则六方密堆积 (hcp) 晶格，且缺陷比例最少。通过改进对液滴堆积的控制，我们可以 3D 打印具有单液滴宽导电通路的功能性合成组织。我们对 3D 液滴堆积的新见解允许制造复杂的合成组织，其中精确定位的隔室执行协调任务。脂质稳定水滴的精确图案是构建合成组织设计的关键挑战。在这里，作者展示了液滴对之间的相互作用如何指导 3D 打印网络中液滴的堆积，从而形成具有高分辨率特征的合成组织。
3D-printing networks of droplets connected by interface bilayers are a powerful platform to build synthetic tissues in which functionality relies on precisely ordered structures. However, the structural precision and consistency in assembling these structures is currently limited, which restricts intricate designs and the complexity of functions performed by synthetic tissues. Here, we report that the equilibrium contact angle (theta (DIB)) between a pair of droplets is a key parameter that dictates the tessellation and precise positioning of hundreds of picolitre-sized droplets within 3D-printed, multi-layer networks. When theta (DIB) approximates the geometrically-derived critical angle (theta (c)) of 35.3 degrees, the resulting networks of droplets arrange in regular hexagonal close-packed (hcp) lattices with the least fraction of defects. With this improved control over droplet packing, we can 3D-print functional synthetic tissues with single-droplet-wide conductive pathways. Our new insights into 3D droplet packing permit the fabrication of complex synthetic tissues, where precisely positioned compartments perform coordinated tasks. Precise patterning of lipid-stabilised aqueous droplets is a key challenge in building synthetic tissue designs. Here, the authors show how the interactions between pairs of droplets direct the packing of droplets within 3D-printed networks, enabling the formation of synthetic tissues with high-resolution features.