Coupling between symmetry and motion in 3D printed microtissue arrays

Symmetry plays a major role in the emergence of collective phases of inanimate materials. In magnetism, for example, geometric frustration leads to spin-glass phases. If similar principles could be leveraged to control collective phases of biological materials, like living cell assemblies, a new set of design strategies could be developed in tissue engineering applications. Building symmetry into biological systems is often challenging and is sometimes achieved through surface micropatterning; achieving such patterns in 3D is even more challenging. To fabricate 3D multi-cellular systems of designed symmetry and spatial patterning, we 3D print geometric patterns of collagen and 3T3 fibroblast cells. These cell/ECM patterns are printed directly into a 3D growth media made from jammed microgels, providing a well-defined yet reconfigurable environment on all sides of the structures. By comparing the collective motion arising in systems with hexagonal and square symmetries, we probe the potential role of geometric frustration in multicellular structure maturation. Preliminary data and analysis will be presented.