Advancing Biofabrication for Tissue Engineering and Living Materials
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Date
2025
Publication Type
Doctoral Thesis
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Abstract
This thesis investigates the intersection of biofabrication for tissue engineering and the emerging field of engineered living materials, leveraging shared principles and methods to drive innovation in both fields. Tissue engineering and living materials share a foundational reliance on precise biomaterial design and fabrication techniques to create environments that support cell activities. However, their applications diverge: tissue engineering aims to replicate or restore biological tissues, while living materials integrate biological processes, such as photosynthesis or biomineralization, into functional systems. This work bridges these fields by developing materials and biofabrication processes that meet the demands of both, demonstrating their shared potential and expanding their respective toolkits.
The thesis has four main research chapters. First, we propose the molecular design of modular proteins for hydrogel formation, tailored for biofabrication of constructs for mammalian cell culture. By combining self-assembling structural domains with bioactive sequences, these hydrogels achieve a balance between mechanical tunability and biological functionality. This modular design enables the creation of tailored solutions ranging from soft substrates for neuronal cultures to stiff hydrogels suitable for mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Additionally, the rheological properties of these hydrogels—shear-thinning and self-healing—facilitate extrusion-based biofabrication, allowing for the direct ink writing of complex 3D structures. These developments underscore how tailored materials can serve as platforms for cellular growth in both regenerative and living systems.
A second focus of the thesis explores light-based biofabrication techniques, addressing challenges in photopolymerization, including cell viability and resolution. By leveraging the reactivity of acrylates and methacrylates to optimize reaction kinetics, it is possible to minimize cell exposure to radical species during fabrication. This enhances the compatibility of light-based additive manufacturing with living cells. The work can be extended to rapid fabrication techniques, such as volumetric bioprinting, to fabricate living constructs with high resolution.
The thesis then transitions to the development of photosynthetic living materials for dual carbon sequestration. By encapsulating cyanobacteria within printable hydrogel matrices, these materials capture CO2 through photosynthesis and immobilize it as carbonate minerals, demonstrating scalability for environmental applications. This work reflects the adaptation of tissue-engineering principles—designing supportive matrices for cells—to a new context, where the focus shifts from cellular repair to environmental functionality. In the final chapter, the encapsulation of terrestrial microalgae highlights another application of this transfer, focusing on enhancing biomass production in controlled environments. This approach addresses agricultural and industrial challenges while ensuring the scalability and efficiency of bioprocesses.
Throughout the thesis, materials design and biofabrication processes are tightly integrated. From the molecular engineering of hydrogels to the development of advanced fabrication techniques, this work highlights the shared principles underpinning tissue engineering and living materials. The results demonstrate that biofabrication is not confined to any single application but is instead a versatile and transformative approach. By bridging these fields, this research lays a foundation for innovative solutions in healthcare, environmental sustainability, and beyond.
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Examiner: Tibbitt, Mark W.
Examiner : Aubin-Tam, Marie-Eve
Examiner : Boccaccini, Aldo R.
Examiner: Oakey, John
Examiner : Schürle-Finke, Simone
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ETH Zurich
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Subject
3D Printing; Hydrogels; Biomaterials
Organisational unit
09472 - Tibbitt, Mark / Tibbitt, Mark