Long-term mechanical loading is required for the formation of 3D bioprinted functional osteocyte bone organoids

Mechanical loading has been shown to influence various osteogenic responses of bone-derived cells and bone formation in vivo. However, the influence of mechanical stimulation on the formation of bone organoid in vitro is not clearly understood. Here, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted human mesenchymal stem cells-laden graphene oxide composite scaffolds were cultured in a novel cyclic-loading bioreactors for up to 56 d. Our results showed that mechanical loading from day 1 (ML01) significantly increased organoid mineral density, organoid stiffness, and osteoblast differentiation compared with non-loading and mechanical loading from day 21. Importantly, ML01 stimulated collagen I maturation, osteocyte differentiation, lacunar-canalicular network formation and YAP expression on day 56. These finding are the first to reveal that long-term mechanical loading is required for the formation of 3D bioprinted functional osteocyte bone organoids. Such 3D bone organoids may serve as a human-specific alternative to animal testing for the study of bone pathophysiology and drug screening.