Data from: Three-dimensional printing of complex biological structures by freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels

We demonstrate the additive manufacturing of complex three-dimensional
(3D) biological structures using soft protein and polysaccharide hydrogels
that are challenging or impossible to create using traditional fabrication
approaches. These structures are built by embedding the printed hydrogel
within a secondary hydrogel that serves as a temporary, thermoreversible,
and biocompatible support. This process, termed freeform reversible
embedding of suspended hydrogels, enables 3D printing of hydrated
materials with an elastic modulus <500 kPa including alginate,
collagen, and fibrin. Computer-aided design models of 3D optical, computed
tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging data were 3D printed at a
resolution of ~200 μm and at low cost by leveraging open-source hardware
and software tools. Proof-of-concept structures based on femurs, branched
coronary arteries, trabeculated embryonic hearts, and human brains were
mechanically robust and recreated complex 3D internal and external
anatomical architectures.