Spatially Controlled Embedded Bioprinting of Prevascularized Spheroids‐Containing Biopatch Enables Functional Skin Regeneration
Functional vascularization remains a critical challenge in the regeneration of full-thickness skin defects. Here, we present a 3D embedded bioprinting strategy for engineering vascularized biopatches through the precise integration of prevascularized multicellular spheroids within a skin-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (SdECM) bioink. Rheological results reveal that a 1.0% (w/v) SdECM formulation exhibits yield-stress behavior, pronounced shear-thinning, and rapid shear recovery, enabling high-fidelity of spheroids while preserving cell viability and structural integrity. Using this platform, endothelial spheroids with tunable diameters are fabricated to investigate size-dependent vascular self-organization. Intermediate-sized spheroids (∼700 µm) demonstrate robust endothelial network formation, with enhanced vascular coverage, branching complexity, and angiogenic gene expression while avoiding excessive hypoxia. Spatial organization of prevascularized spheroids critically regulates paracrine-mediated wound repair, with enhanced fibroblast migration observed when inter-spheroid distances were within 1.8 mm. Furthermore, incorporation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) provides perivascular-like support, significantly stabilizing microvascular networks, with an optimized endothelial cell-to-MSC ratio of 1:0.5. In a full-thickness murine wound model, multicellular spheroids-laden SdECM biopatches significantly accelerate wound closure, enhance re-epithelialization, promoted angiogenesis, and improve blood perfusion. Collectively, this study establishes a scalable embedded bioprinting for engineering prevascularized biopatches and provides design principles for spheroid-based soft tissue regeneration.
Authors
- Gyu Tae Park (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6649-8783)
- Sik Yoon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6449-0761)
- Byoung Soo Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6693-0003)
- Minjun Ahn
- Sae‐Ock Oh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9365-7831)
- Dongjun Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6828-401X)
- Jae Ho Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4323-4790)
Institutions
- Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital (KR)
- Pusan National University (KR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Healthcare Materials
- Published
- 2026-08-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.71616
- Primary Topic
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00