Researchers have developed a novel bioprinting method called CLINK that transforms living cells into specialized bioinks for light-based 3D printing. By using an OMHA linker to modify cell surfaces, the technology enables the creation of complex tissues with ultrahigh cell densities that mimic the natural cellular concentration of the human body. This approach overcomes the limitations of traditional hydrogels, which often dilute cell populations and hinder biological functionality. The study demonstrates the versatility of the platform by successfully fabricating functional neural circuits, synchronized beating heart models, and vascularized liver grafts. Furthermore, these biomaterial-minimalistic constructs showed significant promise in clinical applications, such as accelerating skin regeneration and hair follicle growth in animal models. Overall, this innovation represents a shift toward using living cells as structural building blocks to improve the reproducibility and performance of engineered biological tissues.

References:

• Wang M, Li W, Hao J, et al. Biomaterial-minimalistic photoactivated bioprinting of cell-dense tissues[J]. Cell, 2026, 189(1): 106-122. e26.