Design and fabrication of structured microfibers for the development of biomimetic tissues

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Shaping multiple materials in complex cross-sectional structures will provide numerous advantages in tissue engineering, such as precise control over the position, and interaction of different biomaterials, which will result in increasing the proliferation, and differentiation of cells. Moreover, multi-material arrangement in structured cross-sections will result in mimicking the hierarchical architecture of biological tissues in the organ-on-chip models for drug screening. However, the current fabrication technology face challenges in incorporating multiple materials in complex shapes. In this project, we will propose a microfiber technology for the fabrication of structured microfibers, with multiple materials organized in complex cross-sectional structures. By coflowing four precursor solutions through 3D printed microfluidic devices and curing them with UV exposure, the structured microfibers will be fabricated. The aim of this project will be to engineer the cross-sectional structures of microfibers by tailoring the design of microfluidic devices and the flow rate of precursor solutions in such a way that different combinations and integration areas of material interactions can be established. Firstly, microfluidic devices will be designed to shape multiple materials in eight cross-sectional structures, including concentric, stacked, I-shaped, T-shaped, sandwich, circular-core, multiple-cores, and plus-core cross-sections. Secondly, the polymer precursor solutions will be prepared by varying compositions of polymer solutions, solvent and photo-initiator and the material properties will be determined. Thirdly, the microfluidic devices will be 3D printed and the experimental setup will be established to fabricate microfibers with different cross-sections. The experimental conditions will be optimized to fabricate microfiber in uniform and non-uniform cross-sectional structures. The end goal of this project will be to realize a strategy for the controlled fabrication of a specific cross-sectional structure of microfiber through the 3D printed microfluidic device. After the completion of this project, we will be expanding it for the fabrication of in-vitro tissue models which will serve as organ-on-chip models for drug screening.