High-cytocompatible semi-IPN bio-ink with wide molecular weight distribution for extrusion 3D bioprinting

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 6349
• Main Authors: Li, Meiqi, Shi, Tingchun, Yao, Danyu, Yue, Xiuyan, Wang, Haoxuan, Liu, Kezhou
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 15.04.2022; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 3-D printers; 631/61/2035; 639/166/985; 639/301/54/2295; 639/301/54/990; 639/301/54/994; Alginic acid; Bioprinting - methods; Cell proliferation; Cell viability; Extracellular Matrix; Gelatin; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hydrogels - pharmacology; Ink; Microenvironments; Molecular Weight; multidisciplinary; Printing; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Thinning; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10338-1

The development of 3D printing has recently attracted significant attention on constructing complex three-dimensional physiological microenvironments. However, it is very challenging to provide a bio-ink with cell-harmless and high mold accuracy during extrusion in 3D printing. To overcome this issue, a technique improving the shear-thinning performance of semi-IPN bio-ink, which is universally applicable to all alginate/gelatin-based materials, was developed. Semi-IPN bio-ink prepared by cyclic heating–cooling treatment in this study can reduce the cell damage without sacrificing the accuracy of the scaffolds for its excellent shear-thinning performance. A more than 15% increase in post-printing Cell viability verified the feasibility of the strategy. Moreover, the bio-ink with low molecular weight and wide molecular weight distribution also promoted a uniform cell distribution and cell proliferation in clusters. Overall, this strategy revealed the effects of molecular parameters of semi-IPN bio-inks on printing performance, and the cell activity was studied and it could be widely applicable to construct the simulated extracellular matrix with various bio-inks.