Fei-Fan Cai

3D bioprinting is one of the most promising biofabrication processes to produce scaffolds for tissue engineering via layer-by-layer deposition of a bioink incorporated with living cells. Oxidized alginate–gelatin crosslinked hydrogel (ADA–GEL) has suitable properties for the 3D printing process and exhibits a favorable environment for cell encapsulation [1]. Inorganic fillers, both bioinert and bioreactive are being investigated to enhance the printing ability of inks and the mechanical and biological properties of the printed constructs [2, 3]. In this work, a new composite bioink combining ADA-GEL hydrogel and bioinert inorganic  nanofillers is explored. The printability and stability will be optimized by adjusting the composition of the bioink as well as the parameters needed for 3D printing. Further research regarding the hydrogel characterization, bioactive analysis and cell viability will be carried out in this project.

[1]       Sarker, B.; Papageorgiou, D. G.; Silva, R.; Zehnder, T.; Gul-E-Noor, F.; Bertmer, M.; Kaschta, J.; Chrissafis, K.; Detsch, R.; Boccaccini, A. R. Fabrication of Alginate–gelatin Crosslinked Hydrogel Microcapsules and Evaluation of the Microstructure and Physico-Chemical Properties. J. Mater. Chem. B 2(11) (2014)

[2]     Leite, A. J., et al.,  Bioplotting of a bioactive alginate dialdehyde-gelatin composite hydrogel containing bioactive glass nanoparticles, Biofabrication 8 (3), (2016) 035005

[3]     Utech, S., Boccaccini, A. R., A review of hydrogel-based composites for biomedical applications: enhancement of hydrogel properties by addition of rigid inorganic fillers, J. Mater. Sci. 51 (2016) 271–310.