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The placenta plays a vital role in pregnancy by regulating selective exchange between maternal and fetal circulations and producing essential hormonal signals. Here, we present an in vitro placenta-on-a-chip platform that leverages 3D bioprinting to replicate the structural and functional features of the human placental barrier. This microengineered system utilizes digital light processing 3D bioprinting to fabricate the microfluidic mold and to construct 3D encapsulated cell cultures within a biomimetic hydrogel scaffold, enabling co-culture of three human cell types, including two derived from primary placental tissue. We demonstrate excellent cell viability, high metabolic activity, placental hormone secretion, and native-like selective barrier transport properties within the model. This system offers a versatile platform for experimental perturbations to explore mechanisms of normal placental function and identify contributors to placental dysfunction. 

Hydrogel scaffolds that mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM) environment play a crucial role in tissue engineering. It has been demonstrated that cell behaviors can be affected by not only the hydrogel's physical and chemical properties, but also its three dimensional (3D) geometrical structures. In order to study the influence of 3D geometrical cues on cell behaviors as well as the maturation and function of engineered tissues, it is imperative to develop 3D fabrication techniques for creating micro and nanoscale hydrogel constructs. Among existing techniques that can effectively pattern hydrogels, two-photon polymerization (2PP)-based femtosecond laser 3D printing technology allows one to produce hydrogel structures with a resolution of 100 nm. This article reviews the basics of this technique and some of its applications in tissue engineering.