Yu, YinMoncal, Kazim K.Li, JianqiangPeng, WeijieRivero, IrisMartin, James A.Ozbolat, Ibrahim T.2016-07-142016Yu, Yin, Kazim K. Moncal, Jianqiang Li, Weijie Peng, Iris Rivero, James A. Martin, and Ibrahim T. Ozbolat. 2016. “Three-dimensional bioprinting using self-assembling scalable scaffold-free “tissue strands” as a new bioink.” Scientific Reports 6 (1): 28714. doi:10.1038/srep28714. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep28714.2045-2322http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:27662142Recent advances in bioprinting have granted tissue engineers the ability to assemble biomaterials, cells, and signaling molecules into anatomically relevant functional tissues or organ parts. Scaffold-free fabrication has recently attracted a great deal of interest due to the ability to recapitulate tissue biology by using self-assembly, which mimics the embryonic development process. Despite several attempts, bioprinting of scale-up tissues at clinically-relevant dimensions with closely recapitulated tissue biology and functionality is still a major roadblock. Here, we fabricate and engineer scaffold-free scalable tissue strands as a novel bioink material for robotic-assisted bioprinting technologies. Compare to 400 μm-thick tissue spheroids bioprinted in a liquid delivery medium into confining molds, near 8 cm-long tissue strands with rapid fusion and self-assemble capabilities are bioprinted in solid form for the first time without any need for a scaffold or a mold support or a liquid delivery medium, and facilitated native-like scale-up tissues. The prominent approach has been verified using cartilage strands as building units to bioprint articular cartilage tissue.en-USJournal Article2016-07-1410.1038/srep28714