Jonas Röder

Former Master student

Evaluation of peptide-modified alginate-based hydrogels for inkjet approaches

 

Supervisors: Emine Karakaya, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Derived from brown algae, sodium alginate is a natural, highly biocompatible polymer. By oxidation of alginate to alginate di-aldehyde (ADA) and the subsequent combination with other biopolymers like gelatin (GEL), disadvantageous properties like the lack of cell-material-interaction can be overcome [1]. One of the biggest challenges of this bioink is the natural origin of the two polymers, which can lead to high batch-to-batch variation resulting in poor reproducibility [2]. To overcome this, GEL can be replaced by biocompatible synthetic polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). Due to a lack of cell attachment, migration or proliferation within this bioink further modifications are necessary. Therefore, the objective of this master thesis is the development of bioinks with different adhesive linkers e.g. peptides that are known to enhance cell response. These hydrogels will be investigated in terms of mechanical and chemical properties as well as cell-material interactions.Moreover, all bioinks will be used in inkjet approaches where the performance of two different printers with the new bioinks will be compared. In this regard printing technique, hydrogel handling, cell viability and reproducibility will be investigated in detail.

[1] S. Reakasame and A. R. Boccaccini, Oxidized Alginate-Based Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering Applications: A Review, Biomacromolecules 19 (2018) 3-21.

[2] C. D. Spicer, Hydrogel scaffolds for tissue engineering: the importance of polymer choice, Polymer Chemistry, 11 (2020) 184.