3D Bioprinting of Vascularized Cardiac Tissue Constructs Using Decellularized Extracellular Matrix Bioink

Myocardial infarction results in irreversible cardiomyocyte loss, as adult cardiac tissue lacks regenerative capacity. 3D bioprinting of vascularized cardiac tissue constructs offers a promising route to engineered cardiac patches. We develop a bioink composed of decellularized porcine cardiac extracellular matrix combined with human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and endothelial cells. Printed constructs (2×2×0.5 cm) exhibit spontaneous synchronized contractions within 72 hours post-printing and develop nascent vascular networks by day 14. Subcutaneous implantation in a rat myocardial infarction model demonstrates improved left ventricular ejection fraction (from 28% to 41%) at 8 weeks, with histological evidence of graft vascularization and host integration.