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Advances in 3D Bioprinting
Series Preface
The series publishes cutting-edge monographs and foundational textbooks for
interdisciplinary materials science and engineering.
Its purpose is to address the connections between properties, structure, synthe-
sis, processing, characterization, and performance of materials. The subject mat-
ter of individual volumes spans fundamental theory, computational modeling,
and experimental methods used for design, modeling, and practical applications.
The series encompasses thin films, surfaces, interfaces, and the full spectrum
of material types, including biomaterials, energy materials, metals, semiconduc-
tors, optoelectronic materials, ceramics, magnetic materials, superconductors,
nanomaterials, composites, and polymers.
It is aimed at undergraduate- and graduate-level students, as well as practicing
scientists and engineers.
Proposals for new volumes in the series may be directed to Carolina Antunes,
Commissioning Editor at CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group (Carolina.Antunes@
tandf.co.uk).
Advances in 3D
Bioprinting
Edited by
Roger J. Narayan
First edition published 2024
by CRC Press
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ISBN: 978-1-138-47875-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-53182-3 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-00378-0 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/9781351003780
Typeset in Minion
by SPi Technologies India Pvt Ltd (Straive)
Contents
v
vi ◾ Contents
INDEX, 231
Contributors
vii
viii ◾ Contributors
3D Bioprinting of
Tissues and Organs
A Comprehensive Review of the
Techniques, Recent Advances,
and Their Applications in Organ
Engineering and Regenerative
Medicine
Jahnavi Mudigonda
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Sunnyvale, California
CONTENTS
Abbreviations 2
Introduction 3
The Emergence of Bioprinting as a Tool for Regenerative Medicine 5
Approaches to 3D Bioprinting 5
Bioinks 9
Stereolithography 10
Inkjet Bioprinting 14
Laser Bioprinting 15
Extrusion-Based Bioprinting 17
Electrospinning-Based Bioprinting 19
Applications of 3D Printing in Tissue Engineering and Organ
Regeneration 20
Cartilage Bioprinting 20
Bone Bioprinting 26
DOI: 10.1201/9781351003780-1 1
2 ◾ Advances in 3D Bioprinting
Cardiac Bioprinting 28
Vascular Bioprinting 29
Liver Bioprinting 31
Lung Tissue 32
Neural Bioprinting 32
Pancreas Bioprinting 33
Skin Bioprinting 34
Muscle Bioprinting 35
Other Bioprinted Tissues 37
Limitations of 3D Bioprinting and Clinical Translation of
Bioprinted Tissue Constructs 38
Commercially Available Bioprinters 39
Conclusion 40
References 40
ABBREVIATIONS
Tissue engineering TE
3-dimensional 3D
Extracellular matrix composition ECM
Magnetic resonance imaging MRI
And computed tomography CT
Polyethylene Glycol PEG
PEG dimethacrylate PEGDMA
PEG diacrylate PEGDA
Computer-Aided Design CAD
Glycosaminoglycans GAGs
Methacrylate gelatin GelMA
Ultraviolet UV
Poly(ε-caprolactone) PCL
Fibroblast growth factor FGF
Polyvinyl alcohol PVA
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor VEGF
Heat shock protein HSP
Interleukin IL
Induced pluripotent stem cell iPSC
3D Bioprinting of Tissues and Organs ◾ 3
INTRODUCTION
Dynamic remodeling of organs, tissues, and cells is a common phenom-
enon of normal human body homeostasis. However, in case of significant
damage, the regenerating capabilities of these are impeded and insufficient
to restore normal function. Treatment of damaged tissues is addressed by
transplantation with autologous or xenogenic tissue which is dependent
upon donor availability that can not only be scarce but comes with the risk
of the immune response leading to graft rejection (Abouna 2008).
With the increasing need for tissue and organ replacement for the treat-
ment of various pathological diseases, there is a constant need for a supply
of native tissue-like materials for replacement (W. Zhang et al. 2014). In
the past few decades, with advancements in tissue engineering (TE), bio-
material design, and fabrication techniques, many types of tissues are
being replaced with biomimetic tissues to restore their function (Boyd,
Parisi, and Kalfa 2019; Prasad 2021; Jaganathan et al. 2014). Despite
advancements in TE, replacement of whole organs in cases of organ dam-
age or failure in chronic disorders still requires transplantation from
human donors due to a lack of complex tissue architecture (Haberal et al.
2001; K. Park et al. 2004; Hofstetter and Boerner 2021). Very limited
options are available for organs that lose the innate ability to regenerate
like in liver cirrhosis or undergo necrosis in non-regenerative organs like
cardiac and neural tissue (Pitsis et al. 2011; Kuramitsu et al. 2021).
Tissue engineering in combination with additive manufacturing tech-
nology is one of the first used techniques that utilizes the principles of
material science with biology for the fabrication of three-dimensional
organ and tissue frameworks (Bose et al. 2019; Bandyopadhyay, Mitra,
and Bose 2020). However, native tissues are of different types and gener-
ally have a complex structure in terms of extracellular matrix composition
(ECM), diverse cellular population, resident growth factors, and the three-
dimensional organization of these components in an organized manner
(Martins-Green and Bissell 1995). For example, the cardiac tissue has car-
diomyocytes embedded in myocardial fibers that can contract; skin con-
tains layered keratinocytes and fibroblasts with melanin that gives color
and protective function; liver has many different types of cells that can
handle complex metabolic functions; and the brain has very special cells
that do not regenerate and can control the function of the entire body
(Martins-Green and Bissell 1995; Huang and Greenspan 2012). This spe-
cialized arrangement of cell-ECM interaction with a blend of growth fac-
tors, hormones, and bioactive molecules allows strong coordination for
4 ◾ Advances in 3D Bioprinting
APPROACHES TO 3D BIOPRINTING
3D bioprinting techniques are associated with principles of additive manu-
facturing technology to entrap cells and biomolecules in a volumetric fash-
ion to layer biomaterial constructs (Alheib et al. 2021). The basic concept
is to print layer by layer using a scaffold-based or scaffold-free approach
along with a bioink that can be cell-free or cell-laden (D. I. T. Ozbolat
2016). These bioinks—when combined with resins—form biocompatible
substrates that can be polymerized to volumetric forms. Bioprinting can
be categorized into two types:
6 ◾ Advances in 3D Bioprinting
FIGURE 1.1 The evolution of 3D bioprinting technology from 1980s to 2020. The figure describes the most significant
developments in the field of bioprinting starting from the invention of stereolithography to the first commercial 3D printer for
fabrication of viable printed organs.
3D Bioprinting of Tissues and Organs ◾ 7
a) Scaffold-
based approach: Biomaterial matrix forms the base to
entrap cells and is made of nanofiber polymer matrix or hydrogels.
b) Scaffold-free approach: Bioink comprising cell or tissue aggregates
in the form of spheroids, honeycomb, or cylinder with void spaces
are directly deposited to enable in situ tissue growth and ECM depo-
sition (I. T. Ozbolat 2015).
The process involves three basic steps as shown in Figure 1.2 (Papaioannou
et al. 2019):
Bioinks
Bioinks are composed of either synthetic components or natural living
cells, biomaterials, and biomolecules that can be printed with a special-
ized printer for the fabrication of 3D constructs. Earlier, around the
1990s, 3D printing was introduced in dental healthcare where dentists
used printing techniques to customize dental implants and prosthetics
(Thattaruparambil Raveendran et al. 2019). Urinary bladders using syn-
thetic polymers and tissues were also possible by shape setting (Murphy
and Atala 2014). Slowly, 3D bioprinting emerged as a modified version of
conventional printing using a bioink consisting of living cells and bio-
materials/molecules and an x-y-z stage. Though many types of bioinks
are available and each has its advantages and limitations, it is essential
to choose proper bioinks according to the printing method and intended
purpose. 3D bioprinting is now known as the layering of bioink to create
3D bio constructs such as tissues and organs.
a. Rheology
b. Viscosity
c. Crosslinking chemistry
d. Biocompatibility
Several naturally derived and synthetic polymers and their derived hydro-
gels are proven to be promising candidates as bioinks. Extrusion-based
bioprinting primarily requires shear-thinning bioinks, while droplet or
inkjet bioprinting needs materials with low viscosity. While the actual
requirements for the ink differ depending upon the system, in general, a
typical viscosity requirement is 30 mPas (Derby 2008). Extensively inves-
tigated polymers include alginate, fibrinogen, gelatin, collagen, chitosan,
agarose, hyaluronic acid (HA), methacrylate gelatin (GelMA), polyethyl-
ene glycol (PEG), and decellularized ECM (Wang et al. 2021). These bio-
inks are typically either ion-sensitive, photosensitive, thermosensitive,
enzyme-sensitive, or pH-responsive so that they can be easily gelled to
form solid 3D constructs before, during, and/or after bioprinting. The
specifications of the major types of bioprinting are described in Table 1.1.
Stereolithography
Stereolithography was initially used for additive manufacturing in the
1980s when Charles Hull used CAD designs to create 3D constructs by
transforming the physical state of a fluid to a solid-state in a reservoir
through successive layering and by photocrosslinking using ultraviolet
light (Hull 1986). Later, layer-by-layer bioprinting of photosensitive heat-
curable bioinks from a printhead was established on a moving stage.
Photopolymerization of the photosensitive layers enabled the fabrication
of 3D constructs in x-y directions at a higher speed (Hollister, Maddox,
and Taboas 2002). In this technique, printing quality is dependent upon
the height of the design rather than its complexity (Derakhshanfar et al.
2018; Morris 2018). A similar concept was used initially in personalized
medicine to reconstruct structures of the cranium in reconstructive head
surgery using bioprinters (De La Peña et al. 2018; Carew, French, and
Morgan 2021). Polymers such as acrylate derivatives of PEG such as PEG
dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) and PEG diacrylate (PEGDA) are some of the
widely used polymers that can be photopolymerized using this method
(Zhu et al. 2016). Patient’s imaging data from CT scan/MRI has been
coupled with stereolithography for improvement of quality and design of
prosthesis and implants in complex surgeries.
TABLE 1.1 Types of Bioprinting Techniques and Their Technical Specifications
Ink Cell
Resolution Viscosity Density Cell Nozzle Ease of Structural
Printing Technique (μm) (mPa·s) (cells/mL) Viability Size (μm) Operation Speed Integrity Scalability Cost Advantages and Disadvantages
Inkjet printing 10–50 3–12 106 >85% 21.5–120 Easy 10,000 Low High Low Fast fabrication speed Poor printability
droplets High resolution Easy clogging
per High throughput High shear stress
Second Thermal damage
Micro-valve printing >150 1–200 106 >90% 100–300 Easy 1000 Low– High Low to High throughput Larger Droplet
droplets medium medium High printing stability diameters
per Single nozzle control High shear stress
Second
Acoustic printing 3–200 1–10000 106 _90% not Medium 10,000 Low Medium Medium Orifice-free Indispensability of
specified droplets High No clogging surface tension and
(Continued )
TABLE 1.1 (Continued)
(Vijayavenkataraman et al. 2018; Zhou et al. 2019; Singh et al. 2020; Ratheesh et al. 2020)
3D Bioprinting of Tissues and Organs ◾ 13
Advantages
a. High speed
b. Crosslinking with a higher resolution than any other extrusion
technique
c. Enables design-
intricate networks of channels with varying
diameters
Disadvantage
Inkjet Bioprinting
Inkjet bioprinting is a digitally controlled non-contact printing technique
and was started in 2006. Initially, a conventional 2D inkjet printer was
modified with bioink and an x-y-z controllable platform for 3D manu-
facturing of biologically relevant objects. As the process has evolved, low
viscosity suspension biomaterial with live cells is now being used as a bio-
ink and is deposited over a bio paper substrate material such as a hydro-
gel, culture dish, or an engineered polymer construct. The bioink flows
through a nozzle due to piezoelectric actuation or digitized thermal actua-
tion causing temporal deformation. This leads to droplet-wise dispensing
of liquid and deposition onto a platform (Derby 2008; Pepper et al. 2009).
Layer-by-layer deposition of bioink in the z-direction enables the forma-
tion of 3D constructs (Xu et al. 2005). This can be done in two ways:
Advantages
Disadvantages
Laser Bioprinting
Laser bioprinting is a concept of direct designing of 3D bio constructs
using a laser by writing on a substrate. A pulsed laser beam is utilized
in this process for non-contact direct writing to deposit bioink with cells
for the design of 3D constructs. Light projection systems can be either
directly implemented by laser writing, or mask projection systems can be
used physically or digitally (Bártolo 2011). Laser bioprinting was used for
tissue engineering applications starting in 2007. A microarray of drop-
lets was bioprinted as layers for biomedical applications (Duocastella et al.
2009). In recent years, Ali et al. bioprinted cell-level resolution with high
viability and high speed (5 kHz) using high-throughput laser-assisted bio-
printing (Ali et al. 2014). Key elements in laser-assisted 3D bioprinting are:
The laser volatilizes the heat-sensitive bioink from the ribbon and is
coated onto a quartz target plate or a donor layer that allows the transmis-
sion of the laser. Viable cells can be transferred by selecting an optically
16 ◾ Advances in 3D Bioprinting
optimum laser to absorb the sacrificial layer between the bioink and rib-
bon. Upon exposure of the energy-absorbing layer to a selective laser
beam, the underneath donor layer is vaporized creating a high-pressure
bubble at the interface. The high-pressure bubble causes impelling of the
bioink and droplet collection on the platform. By controlling the z-stage
of the collector, a 3D construct is eventually formed. The bioink is vola-
tile and is made of a natural biopolymer enriched with nutrients which
is used as a substrate to facilitate the deposition and sustain cellular
viability and proliferation. Cells can either be printed as encapsulated
particles in ECM-like biomaterials or they can be directly imprinted
onto the depths of the ECM layer. The volatility of bioink influences the
propulsion of a high-speed jet of cell-laden bioink onto the substrate
(Barron et al. 2004). Advancements in laser bioprinting led to biological
laser processing-BioLP (Barron et al. 2004; Hopp et al. 2005), along with
“matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation direct writing (MAPLEDW)”
(Patz et al. 2006; Duocastella et al. 2007). In these techniques, a metal
oxide (e.g., Ti, TiO2, Ag, etc.) laser-absorbing or energy-absorbing layer
is included at the ribbon and bioink interface as a sacrificial layer to pro-
tect the cells from laser exposure. Biological laser processing utilizes a
low-powered pulsed laser and the sacrificial layer such as a hydrogel and
causes rapid thermal expansion of this sacrificial layer which acts as a
binding medium and allows for propulsion of small volume bioink onto
the substrate with minimal cell damage. The whole process is computer-
controlled and employs a CCD camera that allows for selective cell pat-
terning (Nahmias et al. 2005).
Parameters that affect cell viability in laser bioprinting are:
a. Matrix thickness
b. Laser energy
c. Bioink viscosity
Advantages
a. Contactless deposition
b. Cells are not directly exposed to high shear stress since there is no
contact between the dispenser and the bioink
c. High cell viability (>95%)
d. Ability to deposit highly viscous materials
Disadvantages
Extrusion-Based Bioprinting
Extrusion- based bioprinting was applied for tissue- engineered con-
structs starting in 2002 by Iwan et al. It employs mechanical, pneumatic,
or solenoid dispenser systems to deposit bioinks in a continuous form of
filaments. In this method, extrusion of bio constructs is done by either
direct ink writing-DIW, where extrusion apparatus is adapted to generate
3D-layered constructs that continuously extrude the material through a
nozzle, or by pressure-assisted bioprinting (You et al. 2017).
For direct writing, material selection is considered with the following
properties:
Main working principles that have been used for high performance of
extrusion-based constructs in tissue engineering applications:
Advantages
Disadvantages
a. Relatively slow speed to build a 3D structure
b. Resolution is strongly dependent on nozzle size
c. Cell viability is moderate around 40–80% due to high shear stresses
experienced by cells during the extrusion process
Electrospinning-Based Bioprinting
Electrospinning is a simple technique where high voltage is applied to a
material solution to draw polymers, ceramics, and composites through a
needle into micro/nanofibers, nanotubes, etc., to construct 3D structures.
Polymers are the most used materials for electrospinning. Various solvents
dissolve and charge the polymer solution to rapidly stretch the polymer by
simultaneous evaporation of solvent to collect the polymer as a fibrous mat.
The resolution of the electrospun fibers for 3D bioprinting is achieved by
modifying the electrospinning setup with the addition of an x-y-z robotic
stage to the conventional electrospinning equipment. Additionally, either
a melt polymer extrusion-based system is added to the syringe pump or a
pneumatic regulator. Upon application of high voltage, bioprinting can be
regulated in the desired way with continuity or alignment. To an extent,
with the advent of near-field electrospinning, the deposition of nanofibers
has been achieved with a stable liquid jet region with a short tip-to-target
distance and is known as electrospinning writing.
Disadvantages
a. Unstable charged jet resulting in random fiber deposition and
constructs
b. Shorter collecting distance within mm for 3D constructs when com-
pared with conventional electrospinning
c. Lower applied voltage when compared with conventional
electrospinning
Cartilage Bioprinting
Cartilage is an avascular connective tissue that constitutes major parts of
the ears, nose, and joints with its ECM primarily composed of collagen
type II, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), proteoglycans, water, and electro-
lytes. It has specialized cells embedded in the ECM called chondrocytes
(Poole et al. 2001). Due to lack of vascularity and poor regeneration of
chondrocytes upon an injury/disease, this tissue cannot repair itself.
Autologous chondrocyte implantation and osteochondral allografting are
a few treatment options for damaged articular cartilage. These treatments
give temporary relief but cause a decrease in long-term strength and resil-
ience compared to healthy cartilage (Smith, Knutsen, and Richardson
2005; Ye et al. 2014). Thus, new tissue engineering techniques are required
to bioprint native cartilage-like tissue. Bioprinting has recently gained
attention for engineering cartilage tissues in terms of precise spatial and
temporal deposition of cells and biomaterials that have high mechanical
strength (Daly et al. 2017).
TABLE 1.2 Applications for Various 3D Bioprinted Organs and Tissues
Cell Types Used for Bioink or Bioprinting Bioprinter
Issue Type Bioprinting Substrate Used Modalities Used Models Used Comments
Bone Human mesenchymal stem PEGDMA Thermal inkjet Hewlett- Feasibility to print critical-size defects
cells Endothelial progenitor Hydroxyapatite Laser-assisted Packard Mechanical strength and growth factors have
cells Stromal cells Matrigel™ Extrusion-based deskjet been used for improving functionality
Muscle stem cells Alginate Piezoelectric HT-BioLP Interfacial gradient osteochondral constructs
Human osteogenic sarcoma BMP2 drop-on- workstation are not possible
cells Fibrin demand Bioplotter Integration with the host environment with
Human umbilical cord cells Alginate/gelatin Microvalve MicroJet™ chronic immune response is challenging
GelMA Stereolithography Bioprinting of vascularized bone tissues
Agarose/collagen and scalability for clinically relevant sizes
Cartilage Human chondrocytes PEGDMA Thermal inkjet HP Deskjet 500 Zonally stratified articular cartilage is
Rabbit elastic chondrocytes Fibrin-collagen type Solenoid inkjet printer XYZ clinically unresolved
Bovine articular I Alginate Extrusion-based plotter Gradient osteochondral constructs
chondrocytes Calve Alginate/ Microvalve MABP integration with the host environment
articular chondrocytes nano-cellulose Fab@home Maintaining adequate mechanical strength
Human nasoseptal RegenHU and growth is challenging
chondrocytes
Heart Aortic root sinus smooth PEGDA and Extrusion-based Fab@home Anatomically accurate tissue models have
valve muscle cells alginate Alginate been bioprinted
Aortic valve interstitial cells and gelatin No in vivo studies demonstrating efficacy
Aortic valvular interstitial Me-Gel
cells
Liver Induced pluripotent stem Alginate Valve-based NovoGen MMX Bioprinted liver tissues with long-term
cells GelMA inkjet Bioprinter™ viability still under research
Human embryonic stem Extrusion- based
cells HepG2
Lung Endothelial and epithelial Matrigel™ Valve-based BioFactoryW Human airway models for biocompatibility
cells (substrate) inkjet testing are not commercially available
Limited protocols for stem cell
differentiation to lung-specific cell lineage,
decellularized ECM lung models and
microfluidics of lungs
Cell Types Used for Bioink or Bioprinting Bioprinter
Issue Type Bioprinting Substrate Used Modalities Used Models Used Comments
Neural Murine neural stem cells Collagen type-I Microvalve-based NovoGen MMX Only short nerve grafts are commercially
Schwann cells Polyurethane inkjet Bioprinter™ available
Human mesenchymal stem Agarose Extrusion-based Intricate neural layered microarchitecture is
cells challenging to attain
Lack of neural stem cell differentiation
studies
Pancreas INS1E β-cells Alginate and Extrusion-based BioScaffolder Long-term functionality and viability of beta
Mouse islets Alginate/gelatin cells is still a challenge
Human islets
Skin Human foreskin fibroblasts Collagen type-I Microvalve- LaBP Bioprinted fully functional skin with all the
HaCaT keratinocytes Matriderm™ Thermal inkjet Modified HP cell types and skin appendages are available
NIH 3T3 fibroblasts Thrombin Laser assisted Deskjet Skin Advancements are needed for scarless
Composite 3T3 fibroblasts and Hyaluronic acid Extrusion-based MtoBS Organ-level constructs of integrated tissues
myoblasts Human Gelatin (pneumatic) MABP such as bone, muscle, tendon, nerve, blood
mesenchymal stem cells Fibrinogen Acoustic-based vessels, and skin together are still under
Chondrocytes Polyurethane droplet basic research
Osteoblasts Alginate
Human vein smooth muscle Collagen type I
cells Tissue strands
Primary fibroblasts
Muscle Fibroblasts Melt-cure polymers Extrusion-based Custom laser Bioprinting muscle tissue is in preliminary
Myocytes Naturally derived bioprinters research
Human vein smooth muscle hydrogels Challenging to pre-align muscle cells; induce
cells Synthetic hydrogels vascularization and print with different
dECM shapes and multiphasic structures
(Ozbolat, Peng, and Ozbolat 2016; Vijayavenkataraman et al. 2018; Zhang et al. 2019)
Abbreviations: PEGDMA – Polyethylene Glycol dimethacrylate, HA – Hydroxyapatite, BMP – Bone Morphogenic Protein, GelMA – Methacrylate gelatin, dECM – decel-
lularized Extracellular Matrix
3D Bioprinting of Tissues and Organs ◾ 25
Articular cartilages have the most complex layered structure and are
involved in three types of osteochondral defects, namely partial chondral
defect, full chondral defect, and osteochondral defect (Bhosale and
Richardson 2008; Espanha 2010). While designing 3D cartilage con-
structs, it is important to consider the osteochondral interface and the
interface between printed parts and native tissues that altogether play a
crucial role in the repair and regeneration of osteochondral defects (Kilian
et al. 2020). Various bioprinting techniques and bioinks have been used
for cartilage reconstruction.
Gruene et al. reported CAD with the assistance of laser-based bio fabri-
cation with chondrocytes differentiated from stem cells (Keriquel et al.
2017). They successfully laser bioprinted porcine bone-marrow-derived
mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with high viability, and the cells differen-
tiated into osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages maintaining their func-
tionality. Inkjet-based bioprinting has also been used in cartilage tissue
engineering as well as for cartilage defect repair. Cui et al. modified a nor-
mal office desktop printer to bioprint human chondrocytes loaded in
PEGDMA hydrogel to repair articular cartilage defects and demonstrated
similar mechanical and biochemical properties compared to native carti-
lage (X. Cui, Boland, et al. 2012a). Not only that, but the implanted bio-
printed cartilage constructs also integrated with the native tissue with
enhanced interface strength, which significantly improved the quality of
the repaired cartilage. In another study, the same constructs were fabri-
cated with a different polymer called polyethylene glycol that showed sim-
ilar results.
(PEG), incorporated with two growth factors: transforming growth
factor β1 and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). They demonstrated that sam-
ples treated with transforming growth factor β1 and FGF showed much
more GAG content compared to the control group in a 4-week culture
period (X. Cui, Breitenkamp, et al. 2012b). Xu et al. reported a hybrid bio-
printing method and fabricated mechanically improved cartilage tissue
constructs by combining 3D inkjet bioprinting and PCL electrospun fibers
(Xu et al. 2012). The constructs were seeded with rabbit elastic chondro-
cytes and demonstrated cell viability along with cartilage tissue formation
and improved in vitro and in vivo mechanical properties.
Another biomaterial commonly explored for 3D cartilage constructs is
sodium alginate. Ozbolat et al. used a multi-arm bioprinter and demon-
strated increased cell density in printed alginate filaments loaded with
chondrocyte spheroids (I. T. Ozbolat, Chen, and Yin 2014). Kim et al.
26 ◾ Advances in 3D Bioprinting
Bone Bioprinting
Bioprinting is popular for bone tissue engineering because the technique
can fabricate accurate patient-specific tissue constructs from an anatomi-
cal perspective. Common bone substitutes are autografts, allografts, and
xenografts that are the choice of replacement due to better anatomical
resemblance and immune response. However, due to their unavailability
3D Bioprinting of Tissues and Organs ◾ 27
and donor shortage, novel bone substitutes are being developed, and
hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate are the most common biomateri-
als used for bone reconstruction.
Osteointegration of biomaterials depends on multiple factors such as
the physical and chemical properties of the bone substitutes and their
interaction with the host, which increases the chances of rejection and
failure over time (Blaeser et al. 2013). Hence, an alternative 3D construct
strategy is required for recapitulating the native bone structures.
Bioprinting has been explored with many biomaterials, bioinks, and fabri-
cation techniques. Stanco et al. recently reviewed 3D bioprinting for
orthopedic application and provides a comprehensive review of the tech-
niques, bioinks, and results of the materials used (Stanco et al. 2020). We
will briefly discuss the results of some of the studies related to bone bio-
printing here.
Gao et al. fabricated PEGDMA biphasic scaffolds by thermal inkjet
bioprinter and calcium phosphate cement and an hMSC-laden bioink.
The scaffolds showed superior in vitro mechanical properties compared
to alginate/methylcellulose alone. Laser bioprinting has enabled co-
printing of human MSCs and bioactive glass and hydroxyapatite (HA)
nanoparticles under simultaneous polymerization. The cell-loaded con-
structs enabled uniform distribution of hMSCs, high cell viability, colla-
gen production, and alkaline phosphate activity with increased
compressive modulus after 21-day culture in vitro and in vivo in a mouse
calvarial defect correction [11]. In another recently reported study,
Fedorovich et al. bioprinted Matrigel™ and alginate hydrogels loaded
with endothelial progenitor and multipotent stromal cells in a spatially
controlled manner. Incorporation of osteoinductive biphasic calcium
phosphate microparticles differentiated into an osteogenic lineage and
facilitated bone formation in 6 weeks. The addition of growth factors pro-
vides more benefit by contributing to stem cell differentiation in bone
tissue engineering.
Phillippi et al. demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-
2) bioprinted by inkjet printing could differentiate muscle-derived stem
cells to osteogenic lineage on the pattern. In some studies, with large ani-
mals, 3D-printed constructs made of calcium phosphate were able to treat
large bone defects in sheep with and without a vascular pedicle (Phillippi
et al. 2008). Leucht et al. were able to use gelatin-based bioinks to achieve
vasculogenesis in a bone-like microenvironment (Leucht et al. 2020), and
Kilian et al. were successfully able to design layered structures like native
28 ◾ Advances in 3D Bioprinting
Cardiac Bioprinting
3D cardiac tissue engineering is one of the most researched areas due to the
prevalence of various cardiovascular pathologies leading to heart failure
(Hirt, Hansen, and Eschenhagen 2014). In addition, the non-regenerative
nature of native myocardial tissue further increases the demand. Due to
the complex trilayered structure with electrically coupled myocardial cells,
limited attempts have been made to 3D print the cardiac tissue. Extrusion-
based bioprinting with adhesive and scaffold-free tissue spheroids with
rapid self-assembly capabilities have been used for bioprinting collagen
type-I membrane along with human vascular endothelial cells and car-
diac cells isolated from myocardial tubes of chicken embryos by Jakab
et al. (Jakab et al. 2008). The bioprinted tissue spheroids fused in approxi-
mately 70 hours and formed a single cardiac tissue patch that could syn-
chronously beat. Xu et al. bioprinted half-heart-shaped alginate-gelatin
composite hydrogel constructs with ventricle-like layered structure with
primary feline adult and H1 cardiomyocytes using inkjet-based bioprint-
ing (Xu et al. 2009; Yahui Zhang et al. 2013b). Upon electrical stimulation,
excitation-contraction coupling was seen in the connected constructed
ventricles.
3D Bioprinting of Tissues and Organs ◾ 29
Vascular Bioprinting
One of the challenges in regenerative medicine comes from the vascular-
ization of tissues so that they can get perfused with oxygen and receive
nutrients. Several approaches have been developed to address this problem
30 ◾ Advances in 3D Bioprinting
Liver Bioprinting
The liver is a regenerative organ, but in case of severe organ injury or dis-
ease state such as liver cirrhosis that leads to liver failure, there is growing
interest in tissue engineering (No et al. 2015). Bioprinting offers the attrac-
tive potential to create a 3D liver structure for complete organ transplan-
tation as well as for drug testing and high-throughput screening. Liver
micro-organ engineering was first attempted by Faulkner-Jones et al.
who demonstrated bioprinting of human-induced pluripotent stem cells
and stimulated the cells to differentiate into hepatocytes (Faulkner-Jones
et al. 2015). In this study, they concluded that inkjet bioprinting could be
used to maintain viability and pluripotency of cells and direct their dif-
ferentiation into a hepatic lineage after a 17-day differentiation period by
adjusting the pressure and nozzle length during printing. Expression of
hepatocyte-specific markers hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha, albumin,
and zonula occludens-1 were seen with peak albumin secretion on day 21.
Other than whole organ engineering, larger tissue models have been
created by Bertassoni et al. using NovoGen MMX BioprinterTM and HepG2
cancer cell line. For printing, HepG2 cells and fibroblasts within GelMA
hydrogel strands along with agarose strands were solidified in agarose to
photo-crosslink GelMA and create perfusable channels by removing aga-
rose (Bertassoni, Cardoso, et al. 2014a). In this alternative approach, the
cells were viable for up to 8 days. A similar approach has been used for
32 ◾ Advances in 3D Bioprinting
Lung Tissue
Bioprinting for lung tissue is rare. Hovath et al. recently demonstrated
bioprinting of an in vitro zonally stratified tissue construct and air blood
barrier model using BioFactory1 by regenHU (Horváth et al. 2015). The
layered structure was designed by printing MatrigelTM as a basement
membrane along with a layer of EA.hy926 endothelial cells to promote
cellular attachment on the basement membrane. Another layer of A549
epithelial cells was cultured on the next day to enhance cellular viability
up to 85% with uniform distribution for both cell types. The results were
better than manually stacked layers after 5 days of culture. The layering of
matrix and cells was confirmed using histology, and the mechanical prop-
erties and integrity of matrix were found to be better compared to control.
Neural Bioprinting
Neural tissue is a complex system, non-regenerative, and any injury to the
central nervous system such as injury to the brain or spinal cord can lead
to life-threatening complications. The scar tissue inhibits the regeneration
process after injury, and there is no effective treatment for brain repair or
regeneration reported till today (Katzman 2008). The peripheral nervous
system has better regenerative capacity than the central nervous system
but is also challenging (Pleasure 1999). Neural tissue engineering offers
promise to replace diseased, aged, or injured components of the nervous
system; however, there is very minimal work reported in the context of bio-
printing for nerve regeneration. Lee et al. bioprinted C17.2 murine neural
stem cells on a collagen layer next to a fibrin disk loaded with VEGF and
demonstrated that the neural cells migrated toward VEGF-releasing fibrin
gel and proliferated successfully in contrast to the cells that could not pro-
liferate within the collagen matrix. VEGF influenced the cell migration in
this study, but they did not study any other factors (Y.-B. Lee et al. 2010).
Hsieh et al. studied the response of injecting a combination of bioink
with neural stem cells in zebrafish embryo neural injury model and dem-
onstrated that a thermoresponsive polyurethane hydrogel with optimal
stiffness and gelation ability at 378 °C without the need for a crosslinker
3D Bioprinting of Tissues and Organs ◾ 33
rescued the impairment of nervous system in 6 days (Hsieh, Lin, and Hsu
2015)—whereas Owens et al. used a true bioprinting technique and
extruded a pellet of Schwann cells and bone marrow stem cells scaffold-
free approach within a 3D-printed agarose mold. The grafts were then
implanted into mice, and their results of 10 months explants showed that
the cells in the agarose mold aggregated and formed a nerve tissue graft
with three lumina compared to the functionality of autologous grafts and
hollow collagen grafts (Owens et al. 2013). This study demonstrated the
feasibility of bioprinting nerve grafts though the better performance of the
3D-bioprinted grafts in comparison to commercially available collagen
grafts could not be proven due to the small sample size.
In another study, Gu and colleagues fabricated a 3D neural mini-tissue
using microextrusion bioprinting with a bioink composed of polysaccha-
rides alginate, carboxymethyl chitosan, agarose, and human neural stem
cells. They did not implant the constructs in vivo, but the cells on the 3D
constructs presented higher expression of differentiation markers com-
pared with 2D differentiation owing to optimal compression modulus and
porosity of the bioink (Gu et al. 2016). Few other investigations studied the
effect of different combinations of bioink such as synthetic thiolated
Pluronic F- 127 and natural- occurring HA and gelatin and thermo-
responsive polyurethane gel combined with neural stem cells or fibro-
blasts synthesized using microextrusion bioprinting. The bioprinted
neural constructs in all these studies showed good cellular viability in cul-
ture, cellular reprogramming with an increase in neural crest and stem-
ness markers, and gene expression of β-tubulin III indicating possible
neural differentiation (Knowlton et al. 2018; de la Vega et al. 2019).
Pancreas Bioprinting
Pancreatic disorders are associated with metabolic disorders, mainly dia-
betes mellitus, and it is challenging to design models for pancreatic regen-
eration due to in vitro instability of the primary pancreatic β-cells and the
limited differentiation ability from the human stem cells. Regeneration
of pancreatic tissue has thus been tried with β-cells from mouse lines or
insulinoma cells (Pagliuca et al. 2014). For bioprinting pancreatic tissue,
only a few studies have been done.
Human, mouse islets, and rat insulinoma INS1E β-cells have been
encapsulated in alginate-gelatin hydrogels and dual-layer scaffolds by
Marchioli et al. In diabetic mice, 7 days after explantation, the bio con-
structs demonstrated loss of β-cells viability and functionality without
34 ◾ Advances in 3D Bioprinting
responding to the change in glucose level, although the cells were unaf-
fected after printing (Marchioli et al. 2015). In another recent study,
extrusion-based bioprinting was utilized to microfabricate scaffold-free
tissue strands made of rat fibroblasts and mouse insulinoma TC-3 β cells
in the core and shell, respectively, with insulin expression. In this study,
only the feasibility of the tissue strands was discussed with a future appli-
cation in bioprinting (Gurlin, Giraldo, and Latres 2021).
Skin Bioprinting
Skin is not only the largest organ of the human body, but it also plays
a significant role as the first defense barrier as an integral part of the
immune system (Vijayavenkataraman, Lu, and Fuh 2016). It has a highly
complex stratified structure with various types of cells, namely kerati-
nocytes, melanocytes, Langerhans cells, and Merkel cells. Major burns,
scratches, diabetic foot ulcers, skin loss due to trauma or tumor resec-
tion (dermatonecrosis) are the main causes of skin defects, which require a
large number of skin substitutes for treatments. The current gold standard
is skin grafting that is limited to the donor site; commercial skin grafts
are susceptible to scar formation and skin product testing on animals is
forbidden in most countries (Ng et al. 2016). Other options are allografts,
acellular dermal substitutes, and cellularized graft-like commercial prod-
ucts [Dermagraft and Apligraf] (Metcalfe and Ferguson 2007; Leon-
Villapalos, Eldardiri, and Dziewulski 2010). Bioprinting has become most
popular to fabricate regenerative skin grafts. The basic requirement for
bioprinting functional skin models is to fabricate a double-layer structure
mimicking both dermis and epidermis with high resolution, desired cell
density, viscosity, and optimal cell patterning without negatively affecting
cellular behavior by the printing procedure (Skardal et al. 2012).
Inkjet-based 3D freeform printing was first used to print both fibro-
blasts and keratinocytes with collagen to form dermal/epidermal-like dis-
tinctive layers in a hydrogel scaffold that demonstrated trilayered structure
and better shape compared with the manual deposition model (Jorgensen
et al. 2020; Perez-Valle, Del Amo, and Andia 2020). Kim and colleagues
developed a cryogenic plotting system to shape 3D scaffold structures
with collagen or alginate (G. Kim et al. 2009). Lee et al. bioprinted a
13-layer-tissue construct with keratinocytes and human foreskin fibro-
blasts in the alternating collagen layers, and the resulting constructs dem-
onstrated densely packed cells in epidermis layers and low cell density in
the dermis with less ECM deposition (H. Lee et al. 2013).
3D Bioprinting of Tissues and Organs ◾ 35
Laser bioprinting has also been used for skin bioprinting, and in one
study human immortalized keratinocyte cell line and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts
were bioprinted in collagen matrix on a sheet of MatridermTM that demon-
strated a high density of keratinocytes and fibroblasts with an expression
of laminin protein (Koch et al. 2012). Upon implantation in the subcuta-
neous region of mice, tissues integrated within the host by 11 days with
stratified epidermis and formation of the stratum corneum as well as some
blood vessels. In 2012, Skardal et al. used extrusion bioprinting to com-
bine fibrin- collagen gel, amniotic fluid-derived stem cells, and bone
marrow-derived MSCs and successfully achieved a faster closure and re-
epithelialization to treat full-thickness skin wounds in nu/nu mice
(Skardal et al. 2012).
Several other studies have been reported for skin bioprinting. Boland’s
group demonstrated that neonatal human dermal fibroblasts, epidermal
keratinocytes, and endothelial cells were encapsulated in collagen con-
struct. Finally, the construct was covered with a fibrin layer and implanted
in mice, which resulted in microvessel formation and no contraction of
the construct. Skardal et al. bioprinted alternating layers of fibrinogen-
collagen and thrombin loaded with amniotic-fluid-derived stem cells and
implanted onto full-thickness wounds on pigs. The developed constructs
were similar to the native skin compared to control groups.
Many other groups have reported successful 3D bioconstruction of
skin substitutes that have focused on the geometrical structure of the epi-
dermis and dermis but not vascularization. iPSC-derived cells, endothe-
lial progenitor cells, and adipose-derived stem cells—when incorporated
in the bioinks—enhanced vascular networks in the micropatterned con-
structs during the healing period in vivo. Studies have also incorporated
pigmented skin constructs with melanocytes printed precisely in the
dermis-epidermis junction (Min et al. 2018; Ng et al. 2018). Even though
there are successful reports completely functional for bioprinted skin sub-
stitutes, replicating native skin is still a challenge because integrating
sweat glands and hair follicles have remained elusive.
Muscle Bioprinting
Muscular disorders or injuries that lead to more than 20% tissue dam-
age cannot self-heal and result in loss of muscle function (Laumonier and
Menetrey 2016). Bioprinting of muscles has drawn interest in the treat-
ment of muscular diseases and injuries since there is no effective regen-
erative therapy and autologous tissue transplant is associated with donor
36 ◾ Advances in 3D Bioprinting
site morbidity and the functional deficiency (Qazi et al. 2015). Kim and
colleagues developed a novel approach using dECM as a bioink and fibril-
lated PVA as a sacrificial material that was aligned by a microsized nozzle
with controllable wall shear stress with extrusion bioprinting. Uniaxially
aligned fibrillated printed construct was able to induce accelerated myo-
genic differentiation compared to a GelMA-based structure and a dECM
without topographical cues (J. H. Kim et al. 2016).
Prevascularized muscle constructs with layered architecture have been
reported by Choi and colleagues with decellularized ECM loaded with
human skeletal muscle cells, vascular dECM, and HUVECs through
coaxial nozzle printing. They showed improved de novo muscle fiber for-
mation, vascularization, and innervation as well as 85% of functional
recovery in muscle injuries (Choi et al. 2016). These constructs were also
printed with the same dECM bioink with a 3D PCL support system that
preserved major ECM components with high viability, proliferation, myo-
tube formation, and myogenic differentiation. PCL as a bioprinting base
has also been used by Kim and colleagues along with gelatin hydrogel and
human primary muscle progenitor cells implanted in vivo that showed
82% functional recovery tibialis anterior muscle defect in a rodent model
(J. H. Kim et al. 2018). The PCL base was also explored in a study by
Merceron and colleagues who integrated muscle-tendon unit construct
with C2C12 cell-laden fibrin-based bioink that presented good mechani-
cal properties and >80% cell viability at 1 and 7 days after printing as well
as initial tissue development and differentiation (Merceron et al. 2015).
Constantini et al. used a bioink made of PEG-Fibrinogen encapsulating
C2C12 cells and constructed 3D muscle structures with aligned hydrogel
fibers using a coaxial needle extruder in a microfluidic printing head. The
encapsulated myoblasts migrated and fused to form multinucleated myo-
tubes after 5 days of culture. Myotubes also showed alignment along the
direction of hydrogel fiber deposition upon subcutaneous implantation in
immunocompromised mice (Costantini et al. 2018). There are other stud-
ies related to the use of PCL and agarose, where the muscle formation was
dependent on the bioink, mechanical properties, and the fabrication tech-
nique used. Finally, Raman and colleagues developed a muscle-powered
biological machine that was triggered by the electrical stimulation gener-
ated by the contraction of myocytes (Raman et al. 2017). From all the
studies, it is possible to 3D-construct organized muscle fibers that gain
functionality in vivo (C. Kang and Ji 2013).
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comeliest of little feet. Her hands were shapely, and though
somewhat browned by the sun, had not lost their original beauty.
But, though the form was of the fairest to look upon, her face cast it
into the shade.
Blessed with clear-cut and regular features, with sweet mouth and
decided chin, it would have been beautiful without her eyes, which
were deep brown and surpassingly lovely.
Lovely they were at all times, but now in the light of the setting sun,
they glowed with a new, glorious light—the light of a pure love.
She was the daughter of old Robert Jeffries, the prominent man of
the settlement, and every man, young or old, in the village, would
have cheerfully risked his life for little Katie Jeffries. Since his wife
had died, years ago, she was all that was left to him, and he idolized
her.
The sun went down, and still she sat there, smiling and blushing. Her
father was away on some neighborly errand, and she was left alone.
But not long. A hurried, light step came up the hill, a form appeared
in the dusky light, and she rose to greet a handsome, athletic young
man who sprung to greet her, embracing and kissing her tenderly.
“My love!” he whispered, pressing her fondly to his bosom.
“You are late to-night, Walter,” she said, in affectionate reproach.
“Yes, dearest; somewhat. But you know I have a farm, all my own,
and I am working hard now that you may grace it, next spring. It
won’t be long, my darling, and then think how happy we will be. You
will by your love make me better and a more earnest worker; and will
save for me too; while I—”
He drew her nearer, fondly. She felt a delicious thrill, and nestled
close to him.
“You will what?” she whispered, blushing at her boldness.
“Try to make life a sweet, happy dream, for my darling.”
A few precious moments of silence ensued; then young Ridgely
spoke.
“I’ve the nicest farm in the settlement for you, my darling. I have
worked hard, it is true; but even when toil was the hardest and most
trying to my patience, I have dissipated all discontent by thinking
whom I was working for. You don’t know how your love has soothed
me, my darling.”
“Oh, you are too flattering, Walter; too kind and noble. It is sweet to
be loved as I am sure you love me, and I have tried very hard to
please you; but you are too extravagant. ‘Praise to the face,’ you
know, dear.”
“I cannot praise you, my own. It is impossible. That is, I cannot
overrate you. Why, you innocent dear, you don’t know how lovable
and good you are.”
“Now, Walter, really you must not talk so. I am very happy in the
thought you care so for me, but it is wrong—real wrong to talk so to
me. The truth is not to be spoken at all times, you know.”
“Well, then, if you wish it I will not. What do you think of the new
young man that has come among us—Charles Danforth?”
“He is very pleasant and agreeable, but I do not like him. He looks
cunning and cruel. Besides, I like to see men grand, powerful, and
hardy—he looks too much like a girl. What is his occupation?”
“I don’t know. He does nothing but wander away into the forest,
where he spends nearly two-thirds of his time. Dutch Joe said he
saw him in company with another man in a dug-out on Shadow
Pond, yesterday, but I believe it was only his imagination. He is not
very smart and clever you know—he is simple.”
“Walter!” and Katie lowered her voice, and nestling closer to her
lover, glanced nervously around in the twilight. “I am afraid of him.
Father distrusts him. He fears the existence of a band of robbers in
that dreadful forest. You know men have gone in there and have
never come out.”
“Besides that rich man, that trapper that found the treasure
somewhere in Mexico. You know the day he left us to go to St. Louis,
screams were heard coming from the woods, and the people on the
other side did not see him come out. Then father found blood and
marks of violence in a small glade. Oh, Walter, I am afraid something
is wrong.”
“Nonsense, Katie dear! every thing is quiet. There are no Indians
here now, at least in the neighborhood, and even if danger did come,
am I not here, my own?”
“Hush, Walter! some one is coming; see!” and she pointed to an
approaching shadow. Walter Ridgely withdrew his embrace and sat
in a more decorous attitude. Katie’s face expressed discontent at the
interruption. The form approached; it was a man.
“Why Walter! it is Charles Danforth!” she whispered.
Walter arose to go. She caught him and begged him to stay—she
was afraid to be alone with him, she said. So he again sat down.
It was Danforth (or Downing, for he it was) approaching quite near,
humming a jaunty tune.
“Good-evening, Miss Jeffries,” he said, bowing. “And you, Ridgely;
how is your health?”
He extended his hand to Katie, who took it reluctantly. Ditto Walter.
Then he seated himself on the doorstep and at once began a lively,
rattling conversation. He was a versatile, vivacious conversationalist,
and had been educated well. To the backwoods girl, though she had
lived at one time in a civilized community, he seemed a paragon of
learning, wit and beauty.
But then she mentally compared him to Walter. He had not the frank,
honest gaze of the latter; and what women care more for, he did not
have the powerful frame and strength of young Ridgely.
Her eyes were partial, it is true, but she found by comparison that
Walter was his superior in morals, earnestness, strength and
hardihood. But, she could not deny Danforth was gifted with rare
beauty. Still she did not like him—she feared him.
After some time spent in conversation, which Katie sustained by
monosyllables, and in which Walter did not join, Danforth arose.
“May I see you aside a moment, Miss Jeffries?” he asked. “I have
something to say to you.”
She acquiesced, looking disappointedly at Walter, who watched
them retire to a little distance. He did not like it.
When they had gone a short distance, Danforth proposed a stroll
down the hill. She refused, abruptly. He stared; he had expected a
glad affirmative answer. He looked at Walter, and Captain Downing
smiled.
“Miss Jeffries, how long has that young man been in the settlement?”
“You mean Walt—Mr. Ridgely? He came with us from New York.”
“Do you know his character?”
“Perfectly; it is above reproach.”
The captain smiled and talked.
“Miss Jeffries, I am the owner of one of the finest farms in the State
of Ohio. I am alone in the world—friendless. Will you grace that
home?—will you make me happy by being my wife? I love you
fondly.”
He spoke this in his sweetest tone, and with his most tender glance,
encircling her waist with his arm. She drew away abruptly, and
stammered:
“Oh, sir, you can not, you must not talk so to me! You must not—it is
wrong for me to listen to you. Please let me go.”
She was flushed and irresistibly lovely. He looked at her quietly for a
moment, then caught her in his arms passionately and kissed her
hotly.
“My darling!” he passionately cried.
She struggled, ashamed, insulted, shocked at his tones and
gestures. He held her tightly, and pressed another kiss upon her.
Walter, watching them jealously from the doorstep, saw the
disturbance, and, mad with jealousy and rage, rushed toward them.
She escaped from Downing’s arms just as he reached them, and
glided to her lover’s side.
“What do you mean, you rascal?” huskily growled Walter, through his
clenched teeth.
“Rascal? Take care, young whipper-snapper!”
“Yes, rascal—poltroon—villain! What do you mean? What was he
doing, pet?”
“He kissed——”
“Yes, I kissed her, whipper-snapper. I asked for her hand, like a man.
She did not choose to smile on me. I have no ill-will about it. I take it
you are the favored one. Well, if you had behaved yourself, I would
not have borne you any dislike; but you took offense, called me
names I never before took, and now you stand sneering at me.
Whipper-snapper, you are a scoundrel!”
Walter boiled over and sprung toward him with danger in his eyes.
Katie as quickly interposed, holding him tightly, between him and
Downing, so if he clenched with him he must run over her body.
“Let me go, Kate! I command you to let me go immediately.”
He was thoroughly aroused, the more so at seeing Downing’s face
wear a provoking smile. He endeavored to elude her, but she still
kept him closely clasped.
“I will not, Walter; I can not. Be quiet—calm yourself! Do, Walter.”
“Yes; calm yourself, whipper-snapper. Keep your temper, bantam.”
The exasperating smile with which Downing accompanied these
provoking words maddened Ridgely. He took Katie by sheer force
from around his waist, and eluding her, darted toward the robber. He
was close upon him, with his sturdy arm upraised, ready to fell the
other to the ground, when she caught him.
He was off his guard; the wily captain saw it, and dealt him a
lightning blow from the arm-pit. The blow struck Walter squarely
between the eyes, and he dropped like a bullock, with the blood
spirting from his nose.
For a few seconds he was stunned, and sat vacantly on the ground.
Then he aroused himself and crawled to his feet.
His adversary had vanished, and was nowhere to be seen. Burning
with chagrin, pain and rage, he commenced wandering about
vacantly in pursuit. But he was too dizzy and stunned to see plainly,
and before he had been on his feet two minutes he fell again; the
girlish fist of effeminate Captain Downing was hard as a rock, and
was backed by the arm of a blacksmith.
Katie sunk down beside her lover, astounded at the sudden change
in affairs. Shocked at the captain’s ungentlemanly conduct to her,
burning with sorrow at her lover’s harsh action in putting her aside—
these were but trifles compared with the intense shame at seeing
him whipped and vanquished. She was as much ashamed as her
champion, though dimly conscious that she had caused the disaster
by unguarding Walter.
She raised him to a sitting posture, and pillowing his head on her
breast, wiped the blood from his face with her handkerchief. The
moon had just risen, and by its strong light she saw he had received
a herculean blow, as his eyes were red and swollen, his nose was
bruised and bleeding, and he was weak and stunned—scarcely
more than conscious.
She began to cry piteously and stroke his forehead, when a harsh
voice behind her growled:
“What in thunder air ye doin’ thar, gal?”
She turned quickly; her father, a sturdy man in the prime of life, was
regarding her curiously. He was an odd mixture of fun, moodiness
and good-nature, and united the most repelling face and voice to the
kindest heart imaginable. He had been bred in a large city, and was
perfectly “well up” in all matters which interest fast youth. He
recognized the form of Walter, noticed his bruised face, and saw his
daughter’s anxiety. At this last he chuckled.
“Wal, what hev we hyar?” he said, going down on his knees beside
them. “We hev a couple of moss-agate eyes, and we hev a Roman
nose. Wal, what air we goin’ ter do with ’em? Why, we air goin’ to
cure ’em. Why didn’t ye do suthin’ fer ’em, gal?”
“I did not know what to do, father. Oh, dear father, please relieve him
—I know he is hurt terribly. Do, please, father.”
Robert Jeffries stopped not, but whipped out a huge clasp-knife, and
told her to hold it across the bridge of his nose. Then he went off,
muttering:
“Ef we lived in a decent place, now, we’d hev oysters, beefsteak, ice
and sech fur the eyes; but we live in black Arkansaw, and we hain’t
any thing but vinegar, salt and mud. Cuss sech a kentry!”
He bustled about the cabin, struck a light, and rapidly procured some
vinegar and salt. Then he took a cup of water, and making some
mud, formed the three ingredients into a paste, which he clapped on
Walter’s eyes.
It aroused him instantly, and smarting from the salve, he staggered
to his feet, and looked vacantly about; he had received a terrible
blow. Katie affectionately supported him.
“Lie down—lie down!” commanded Jeffries. “D’ye want ter start the
blood a-runnin’, an’ make yer eyes like a hearse? Lie down and keep
still!”
“Where is he?” inquired Walter, making a faint show of
determination. “Where is he?”
“Who?” inquired Jeffries.
“Charles Danforth, father. Oh, he struck poor Walter as hard as he
could, right on his poor forehead.”
“What! yer don’t mean to say that girl Danforth knocked him down
like a beef! whipped a feller that cleaned out six Pawnees, one after
t’other! Wal, I will—that’s good.”
“Oh, father; he wouldn’t have done it if I had not caught him when he
was going to strike. I held him, then Danforth struck him.”
“Yer did, eh! yer did; and yer promised to be his wife. Gal, I’m
ashamed of yer. It’s foul—it ain’t ’cordin’ to the rules of the ring—wal,
wal; and yer claim to be a Jeffries.”
Walter, who had recovered his senses, here interfered.
“You see, sir, she meant good—she tried to prevent a fight. So she
tried to stop me—if she hadn’t I would have given him a thrashing.”
“Thank you; thank you, Walter,” said Katie, with a grateful glance at
him.
“What was the mill about?” asked Jeffries.
“He treated Katie like a—a—”
“What!” vociferated the father. “Treated my daughter like what?”
“He threw his arms around her and kissed her.”
Jeffries’ eyebrows sunk down over his eyes, and he breathed hard.
He was aroused.
“And yer got hit fightin’ for my daughter, did ye? Well young feller, yer
did right, and I’ll remember yer. And him too,” he resumed. “I’ll make
his hide smart.”
Without further parley he walked away down the hill toward the
grocery or rather cabin, for there was no good “store” in the
settlement. Katie knew what was his errand, and she also knew he
was not to be turned aside from his purpose. But she tried to
alleviate his wrath, and called out:
“Now, father, please think before you speak.”
He muttered some reply and strode down the hill. Three hundred
yards away was the provision cabin where Danforth stayed when he
was in the settlement. It was kept by a German named Hans
Winkler. It was not a “store,” for the few families which lived in the
neighborhood were too poor to require such a thing. But the old
German, thinking to turn an honest penny now and then, had
brought on a few staple articles from the Eastern States, which he
retailed out for furs, produce, etc., making a large profit on every
thing.
The cabin stood on the bank of the river already mentioned. To this
Jeffries strode, and after listening for a moment, knocked at the door
loudly.
No answer. Hans must be asleep. He knocked again. Still all was
quiet. Then he halloed. Yet the cabin was still.
He turned away, provoked; his bird had eluded his wrath for the
present. Resolving to punish him severely at the first opportunity, he
was striding away, when a faint voice, seemingly far away, came to
his ears:
“You are treading on dangerous ground; take care!”
He stopped and listened intently; all was still. The placid stream
flowed on quietly, leaving no sound; the night was still. He started on.
Before he had gone a yard, the same voice rung out in clarion tones,
near, loud, and shrill:
“You are treading on dangerous ground; take care!”
The sound proceeded from a group of willows a few yards up the
river bank. He darted to them. He entered their gloomy recesses,
ready against surprise, and searched them through; but, though he
beat them for an hour he found nothing, and heard the mysterious
voice no more. Then he went home, wondering intensely.
CHAPTER III.
“BEWARE!”
Walter, after being nursed a while by the tender hands of Katie, bid
her an affectionate good-evening, and started toward his lonely
bachelor-hall, which was situated beyond the cabin of Hans Winkler
a mile, and down the stream. Half of the distance home lay through
the settlement, while the other was rendered dismal and gloomy by
the road’s running through a projecting cape of Dead-Man’s Forest.
It was a lonely, gloomy walk to take in an unsettled country, and
through a skirt of such an ill-omened wood. But Walter was sturdy
and bold, and thought nothing of it. What danger? had he not a
revolver? could he not shoot with the best? Certainly; what had he to
fear?
He strode along with his hands in his pockets, musing. His thoughts
were partially pleasant and gloomy. He had been unable to avenge
an insult offered to the girl he idolized; he had been “knocked out of
time” by an effeminate youth; and mauger the salve, his eyes were
purple and swollen, and his face was bruised; never mind—he would
search out Danforth in the morning.
On the other hand, she had tenderly cried over and tended him; she
had shown, without doubt, she devotedly loved him; and in the
spring she would be his own loved wife.
What more could a young man, very handsome and intelligent, in the
full vigor of early manhood, in possession of a good farm which in a
few years would yield him a good living, desire?
“No more,” he said, after a mental calculation.
What! was it possible here was a contented man? No; a lingering
drop of gall remained; he was smarting at defeat, and bruised eyes.
He would show him to-morrow—that he would.
He passed Hans’ cabin, and noticed it was dark and silent; then he
continued, whistling.
Before him lay a short reach of open, moonlit glade, then came
Dead-Man’s Forest.
Every thing was in perfect repose. In front the dark, somber wood
stretched away; behind was the settlement, sleeping on the hill; and
around him was the ghostly, quiet glade.
“You are treading on dangerous ground; take care!”
Hallo! who said that in such a quiet, far-away voice? Who spoke?
Hallo!
The voice did not reach his ears—he did not hear it; but it spoke for
all that. He went on.
He was plunging into the haunted forest; in another moment he
would be lost to sight in the ghostly mazes.
“You are treading on dangerous ground; take care!”
He did not hear the warning, and went on. He passed a thick tree in
the middle of the wood; a man glided out from behind its trunk; there
was a dull, heavy blow, a deep, rattling groan, a fall; and a man was
bleeding on the ground in Dead Man’s Forest.
Robert Jeffries returned to his cabin, very much out of humor. His
revenge was yet to come; he was forced to wait; and he ground his
teeth.
A light was burning in the little cabin when he entered, and Katie was
sitting by it, sewing. She looked very sweet and lovely as she sat
there, and his heart first softened, then became adamant; let any
man insult her—the tenderest, purest girl in the world.
She greeted him with an anxious look.
“Well, father?”
“I couldn’t find the villain—curse him!”
“Oh, father, I’m so glad!”
“Glad of what, gal? When a man insults ye and gits out’n yer father’s
reach, air ye glad?”
“Oh, father, he wanted me to marry him.” (This with a blush—very
red.)
“The skunk!”
“And I am glad because you did not have a quarrel.”
“I ain’t; I’ll fix him! Marry you! Why, gal, ye don’t mean to say ye like
him?”
“No, father; far from it. I am afraid of him; but perhaps—perhaps—”
“Wal?”
“Perhaps he—loved—me—so he could not control himself. I am sure
he is not to blame for loving me.”
A woman all over. They never think the less of a man for loving
them, however low he may be. If they did they would be disparaging
themselves.
“I guess yer’d better go ter bed—I’m going.”
She arose and lighted another candle and then kissed him tenderly.
“Good-night, dear father,” she said. “A pleasant night and happy
dreams. I know you will feel softer in the morning. Good-night.”
The cabin contained two rooms; one sacred as her sleeping room,
the other the kitchen, parlor, dining and her father’s sleeping room.
She had a bedstead with a soft bed, pure and white as was she; he
had a double blanket, with a valise for a pillow; she had a window in
her room large enough for a bear to clamber through; he had none.
The window was of glass and opened like a door—on hinges. It was
about five feet from the floor and was usually kept closed at night
with a button, but as the summer nights were hot and uncomfortable,
she left it open to admit the cool breeze—in her innocence never
dreading harm.
She went into her room and closed the door, her father directly going
to bed, sleeping on his gun; Robert Jeffries was wary.
After she had gone to bed and had put out the candle, she lay
thinking of Walter, smiling, and feeling very happy. In the spring he
would be her husband.
After she had thought and happily dreamed a delicious wide-awake
dream, she felt cool. Should she close the window? She had better;
she had grown timid of late. But she called herself a timid, weak
thing and resolved to leave it open. She did; and went to sleep.
“Trouble is coming; take care!”
Hallo! away down there in the dark, grim wood. Who is talking at this
time of night? Hallo!
She went to sleep, so did Robert Jeffries, and the window was open.
The moon rose into the zenith and looked down from her pale face
upon three different objects: a forest, a river, and a cabin.
In the forest a silent form lay cold, still and bloody, near a thick tree;
a man stood over him, looking quietly down upon him.
The watcher spoke in a strange, far-away voice.
“Trouble is coming; take care, take care.”
He turned and was gone with a very white face, a silent, swift tread,
and a cold, staring eye.
On the bank of the river a negro crept back and forth by the cabin of
the German. He was evidently waiting for some one, as he stopped
now and then and peered intently toward the cabin on the hill, then
kept his creeping pace.
A man kept along a dark shadow, stealing toward the cabin. He drew
near, then listened; crept on a little, then listened again. All was
quiet; he stole up to its walls, then stopped and listened a third time.
Jeffries was snoring inside. He crept round to the other side and
stood under the window. Inside was beauty, innocence and virtue;
outside was beauty, cunning and wickedness. He placed his hand on
the sill.
Creak!
He peered in. By the pale moonlight he could see the fair girl in deep
sleep—deep and placid. The pure white covering fell daintily over
her as she lay there, with a smile on her lips, and a sweet expression
on her face. She was dreaming of him.
He could not hear her breath—it was too soft and gentle; but he
could tell by the gentle rise and fall, and by the placid expression of
her face, that she was in a deep sleep.
Creak!
He stood for a moment, gazing at her, with a smile on his comely
face. Then he turned and went from the shadow of the cabin out into
the bright moonlight. Drawing a white handkerchief from his green
coat he waved it briskly above his head.
Down on the river bank, near the German’s cabin, a bright light
glowed for a moment, and a white object waved. Then both
disappeared.
He stole back with another smile and again stood under the window.
Creak!
She moved, then turned gently, smiling sweetly in her sleep as she
did so, and one word escaped her lips:
“Walter!”
The man outside smiled sweeter than ever at this and again placed
his hand on the sill.
“Take care! beware!”
He started as if he had been shot, and cowered under the wall in
affright. He had heard a loud, shrill voice away in the forest utter
those words, and a deadly fear overcame him.
For many times of late he had heard that voice, warning him of evil;
too many times he had laughed at it; but now?
Creak!
He was thoroughly frightened and fairly shook with fear, though a
bolder man never trod the earth. He might well shake.
He listened for a repetition but it did not come. Then after a few
moments he recovered and laughed at himself, and again for the
third time placed his hand on the sill.
Creak!
Three times he had placed his hand on the sill ready to enter; it was
loose and it creaked; but the fair sleeper, unconscious of danger,
slept sweetly on.
He listened and peered a last time, and then cautiously mounted the
sill. Half in the window he stopped, fearful lest the shadow might
awaken her; but she still slept on.
He dropped lightly to the floor and crept to the bed. Gazing at her as
she lay there, a wicked smile crept over his lips.
A low chirp came faintly to his ears; the sleepy chirp of a half-
awakened bird.
He went to the window and waved his white handkerchief, then
glided back to the bedside.
A shadow fell over the room; he turned and saw a round, woolly
head in the window. He smiled again and gave a gesture of
satisfaction.
Then he stole to the head of the bed, and took a small instrument
from his pocket.
It was a piece of wood about an inch and a half square, padded with
cotton, with a string knotted in both ends—it was a gag.
He reached over and with a quick, cunning movement, placed it in
her mouth.
Then like a flash of lightning he passed the string around her neck;
she was gagged!
She awoke with a start, and looked wildly at the man standing over
her. She tried to scream—she could not. Then she rose upright with
terror depicted on her face, and her eyes wore a horrified
expression.
She attempted to rise and fly but he held her fast. He had his hands
full in a double sense, for she struggled violently, beating him with
her hands, her whole nature aroused. He made a signal to the man
outside.
He slid through the window with the agility and silence of a cat and
stood beside him.
“Throw her clothing out of the window!” he whispered. The negro
obeyed.
“Now get outside and take her!” He clambered out.
“Here she is. Ha! she’s fainted!”
She had. Unnerved by the suddenness and alarm of the scene, by
the terror of maidenly modesty, she had fainted dead away and lay
motionless in his arms.
He passed her out to the negro, who gave a chuckle of delight at his
lovely burden.
Then he swiftly followed.
Once outside he listened intently. The heavy breathing of Jeffries
inside was the only sound; he was soundly sleeping. The worst for
the present was over.
“We must lose no time!” he whispered. “Now for Shadow Swamp!”
Silently in the moonlight they stole away, down the hill, past the few
cabins, sleeping quietly. Katie’s fate was approaching.
She lay limp and quiet, with a white, scared face, beautiful in its
alarmed expression. He clasped her tightly and hurried on.
When they had got to the cabin by the river, a faint shadow stole out
from it, and ran like a streak of light toward Dead-Man’s Forest. They
stopped, alarmed, and Downing, placing the form of Katie upon the
ground, drew a revolver and cocked it. Cato, the Creeper, whipped
out his razor.
Across the glade darted the shadow, and vanished in the recesses of
the somber wood. Cato’s teeth chattered.
“Golly, Mars’r Cap’n. I’se afeard.” And his eyes rolled.
“Coward! afraid of what? Why, couldn’t you see it was a raccoon?”
“Oh, no, Mars’r Cap’n; dat warn’t no ’coon. Dis chile’s hunted ’em
’nuff ter know ’em. Golly, Mars’r Cap’n! dat war a ghost sure ’nuff!”
“Pshaw! ghost! See here, don’t you suppose I can see as well as you
can? I tell you it was a raccoon. By George, I believe the bloke’s
scared, sure enough.”
“Dat I am, Mars’r Cap’n—dat dis chile am! Ole Cato giv’ berry much
to be out’n dis ’ere muss. I done tol’ yer, cap’n, Mars’r Cap’n, dat war
Obeah sure ’nuff. I done see’d ’em onc’t afore. Golly! dis chile’s done
gone dead!”
“Hold your tongue! what if it was a ghost? Spirits can not harm a
man. If they did there wouldn’t be a live man in all the world. I want
you to stop this nonsense right away. Don’t let me hear another word
of it! d’ye understand? Time is scarce; come on, and keep still.”
Taking up his unfortunate prisoner, he motioned Cato to follow suit
with the clothing he had dropped in his fright, and went rapidly
across the glade, closely followed by the terrified negro. Five
minutes later the glade was deserted, and Katie, sweet Katie, was in
the hands of a villain, being hurried away to Shadow Swamp.
Hush! who is lying cold, still and bloody by a thick tree in Dead-
Man’s Forest? Who is there to save him from a terrible death?
Hallo! who is talking in the depths of the haunted forest when the
moon is looking calmly down? Who is silently gliding from shadowy
tree to moonlight glade with ghastly face, robed in white, with a
staring, steely eye? Hallo!
Who is speaking in a far-away voice to the quiet night? What is he
saying? Who speaks? hallo!
“You are treading on dangerous ground; take care!”
“Take care!” whisper the forest echoes.
“Take care!”
CHAPTER IV.
A SHARP GIRL.
The sun rose as usual the next morning, and Jeffries was awakened
by its rays peeping through his door; he rubbed his eyes, then sat
upright.
“Wal, old yeller-face;” he addressed Old Sol. “Yer’ve cotched a
weasel asleep this yer time, fur a fact. Wal, I’ll be durned! a-sleeping
at sun-up! Bob Jeffries, this yer won’t do; won’t go down; it’s a lazy
trick.”
He arose, stretched himself, and called out:
“Hullo, in thar! you napping, too, gal? Heigho! arise! wake up! go ter
the ant, thou sluggard, etc., etc. Katie, Kitty, Puss, Tabby, wake up!”
He received no reply; he called again:
“Come, Kate, come! it’s time to get up.”
Still he received no reply; he marveled, for she was generally up and
about before he was, and once calling was sufficient. He opened the
door and looked in, dreading some evil.
What was his surprise at not seeing her there. He was alarmed.
The bed had been occupied, but her clothing was gone, together
with her own self; the window was open, and she had left by that
means of egress.
This he knew, for to have gone out by the door she must have
disturbed him, as the door opened outward, and he lay directly
before it. She had gone out by the window.
He rushed to it, and looked out. She was not in sight; he became
alarmed in good earnest, and went hurriedly out of doors into the
open air.
He went directly to the house or cabin of the nearest settler, Josh
Dunbar, hoping to find her there. Hettie Dunbar was a sweet young
girl, Katie’s bosom friend, and their cabin was a favorite resort of
Katie’s.
Hattie came to the door at his approach, and smiled gayly at him, not
noticing his disturbed appearance.
“Have you seen Katie this morning? is she here?” he asked,
hurriedly.
“Katie? Why no. I haven’t seen her since yesterday afternoon. What
is the matter?”
“I dunno, I dunno. I’m afraid suthin’s wrong; she ain’t at the house.”
“Oh, she’s gone out awhile, perhaps, before breakfast,” suggested
Hettie.
“No, she ain’t—she don’t hev no time ter go a-walkin’ afore
breakfast; she allus gets it herself.”
“Are you sure she is not at the house?”
“Sartain, sartain. She clim’ out the winder, ter boot.”
“Climbed out the window!”
“Yes; thar’s suthin’ wrong. But p’r’aps she’s at some of the other
houses,” he added, with a faint glimmer of hope.
“She can not be, for I have been up ever since daylight, working at
the window. If she had stirred from the house I surely should have
noticed her. She has not left it since daylight.”
“It’s mighty strange—mighty strange! she never went off so before,”
said the anxious father, gloomily.
“Hello! what’s the matter with you, Jeffries?” echoed a stentorian
voice, close at hand. Jeffries turned.
It was Josh Dunbar, coming around the house. He was a sturdy,
stalwart man of forty or thereabouts, good-humored and jolly, with
the eye of a hawk, the arm of a blacksmith, and the leg of a savage,
and like Jeffries, a widower. He had just been milking and evidently