Biology subjects

S.V., K.

Publications and source records attributed to S.V., K..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Evaluating Preservation Techniques for Long-Term Stability of 3D Bioprinted Liver Scaffolds

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted liver scaffolds offer a promising platform for drug screening, disease modelling, and regenerative medicine, yet their broader adoption is limited by the absence of robust post-fabrication preservation strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of -80{degrees}C (deep freezer) preservation and evaluate the structural integrity and hepatic functionality of GelMA-decellularized liver extra cellular matrix (dECM)-based 3D bioprinted liver scaffolds. Bioinks were formulated using synthesized GelMA and solubilized rat liver dECM, and 3D scaffolds were fabricated via extrusion bioprinting into rectilinear grid scaffolds. The 3D scaffold preservations was performed by immersion into two different medium (the culture DMEM media and the other FBS-DMSO cocktail) was evaluated using MTT viability assay, and albumin assay. Preserved 3D bioprinted scaffolds retained overall architecture and cell distribution in the FBS-DMSO cocktail demonstrated by the live dead assay. Together, the data demonstrate that -80{degrees}C storage can maintain the basic cell viability ([~]80%) and a substantial fraction of liver-specific functionality in 3D bioprinted scaffolds but also highlight sensitivity to preservation-induced injury. These findings underscore the need for further optimization of cryoprotectant formulations and freezing protocols tailored to 3D bioprinted liver scaffolds, and provide a foundational framework for developing ready-to-use, cryopreserved 3D liver models for translational applications.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2025

Evaluation of Anti-Fibrotic Therapeutics Using a Three-Dimensional In Vitro Liver Fibrosis Model

SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGEThree dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a leading technology in tissue engineering that offers controlled deposition of cells and bioinks layer by layer, this technique allows for the accurate replication of tissue spatial organization, incorporating tissue compartmentalization and vascularization. This study focuses on the screening of anti-fibrotic drug on a previously established 3D liver diseased model. In market, there are no available 3D in vitro liver disease model that is used for liver regeneration/drug screening. The 3D in vitro liver disease was fabricated by utilizing decellularized rat liver Extracellular Matrix (dECM) and Gelatin Methacryl (GelMA) along with hepatic cells. The developed healthy model was rendered fibrotic by employing methotrexate (MTX) a fibrotic agent at a concentration of 10mM for 72 hours. MTX is well known to cause hepatotoxicity and have been analysed for causing fibrotic -like characteristic in the model. This manuscript mainly focuses on the reversal aspect of the study, where anti-fibrotic drug, aspirin was administered on the fibrotic model to evaluate the effect. This study examines the impact of antifibrotic drug aspirin (ASP) on both 2D HepG2 cell and the fabricated 3D model by integrating major experiments including the biochemical, morphological, and molecular analyses. The outcomes disclose a progressive decline in the fibrotic trait and regaining the hepatocyte-specific functionality. Successful employment of this 3D model will reduce the involvement of animals in drug testing experiments.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2025

Engineering a GelMA-dECM-Based 3D Bioprinted Liver Fibrosis Model: Methotrexate-Induced Functional and Molecular Validation

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting represents a cutting-edge advancement in additive manufacturing, offering unprecedented precision in fabricating in vitro models that recapitulate native tissue architecture and function. In this study, we engineered a 3D bioprinted hepatic construct using a composite bioink comprising Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMA), decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) derived from rat liver, and HepG2 cells. GelMA was synthesized in-house to provide mechanical integrity and biocompatibility, while the liver-derived dECM offered essential biochemical cues to mimic the native hepatic microenvironment. The combination of GelMA and dECM uniquely provides mechanical robustness and bioactive cues essential for hepatic tissue mimicry. This synergy enhances cellular functionality and supports accurate fibrosis modeling for translational research. The bioprinted constructs were crosslinked using microbial transglutaminase and a photoinitiator to achieve structural stability. Following fabrication, the 3D bioprinted hepatic constructs were evaluated using cytocompatibility assays (MTT, live/dead), functional assays (albumin, urea, LDH, ALT, and ALP secretion), and gene expression profiling to validate liver-specific function. Subsequently, liver fibrosis was induced in the 3D bioprinted constructs via methotrexate (MTX) exposure, and the fibrotic phenotype was confirmed through functional decline and upregulation of fibrosis-related genes. This study demonstrates a robust and physiologically relevant 3D bioprinted in vitro model of methotrexate-induced liver fibrosis, offering a valuable platform for translational applications in drug screening and hepatic disease modelling.

bioengineering↗