Creating a Working Tissue Scaffold

Tissue engineering is a new and growing field that could help and impact tons of people. Engineers can see in the future that using tissue engineering, they would be able to 3D print organs. Currently engineers are at the level of printing tissue scaffolds, which include cells and a hydrogel that mimic the protein of a natural tissue. Although this seems like an easy task, it is a very complicated and detailed process with many solutions.

The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.

This Facilitator Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.

Telling the Story Video

The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.

Design Challenge Video

The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.