3D bioprinting of E. coli MG1655 biofilms on human lung epithelial cells for building complex in vitro infection models

Abstract

Biofilm-associated infections are causing over half a million deaths each year, raising the requirement for innovative therapeutic approaches. For developing novel therapeutics against bacterial biofilm infections, complex<i>in vitro</i>models that allow to study drug effects on both pathogens and host cells as well as their interaction under controlled, physiologically relevant conditions appear as highly desirable. Nonetheless, building such models is quite challenging because (1) rapid bacterial growth and release of virulence factors may lead to premature host cell death and (2) maintaining the biofilm status under suitable co-culture requires a highly controlled environment. To approach that problem, we chose 3D bioprinting. However, printing living bacterial biofilms in defined shapes on human cell models, requires bioinks with very specific properties. Hence, this work aims to develop a 3D bioprinting biofilm method to build robust<i>in vitro</i>infection models. Based on rheology, printability and bacterial growth, a bioink containing 3% gelatin and 1% alginate in Luria-Bertani-medium was found optimal for<i>Escherichia coli</i>MG1655 biofilms. Biofilm properties were maintained after printing, as shown visually via microscopy techniques as well as in antibiotic susceptibility assays. Metabolic profile analysis of bioprinted biofilms showed high similarity to native biofilms. After printing on human bronchial epithelial cells (Calu-3), the shape of printed biofilms was maintained even after dissolution of non-crosslinked bioink, while no cytotoxicity was observed over 24 h. Therefore, the approach presented here may provide a platform for building complex<i>in vitro</i>infection models comprising bacterial biofilms and human host cells.