Kevin Becker

Master student

Effect of bioactive glass nanoparticles on the physico-chemical and biological properties of ADA-GEL composite bioinks

 

Supervisors: Susanne Heid, Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

3D bioprinting has emerged as a valuable tool to fabricate hydrogel scaffolds for tissue engineering. It offers the possibility to produce individually shaped tissue replacement while encapsulating living cells inside the polymeric hydrogel matrix [1]. Alginate dialdehyde (ADA) in combination with gelatin (GEL) is a popular hydrogel system printable by extrusion-based technique and is frequently used in bone tissue engineering incorporating bioactive, reinforcing inorganic filler compounds such as 45S5 bioglass (BG) [2]. The addition of inorganic fillers to hydrogels is also beneficial for applications in soft tissue regeneration although there has been more limited work in this case [2, 3]. The aim of this project is to analyze the effect of bioactive glass nanofillers on ADA-GEL composite hydrogels for soft tissue engineering. The optimal ADA-GEL ratio for cell mobility, the impact of specific ion release by the nanofiller on the physico-chemical properties, pH as well as on cell viability will be analyzed. The 3D bioprinting performance will be characterized by rheological measurements and printability tests. Furthermore, the significance of time-dependent post-crosslinking due to ion release will be evaluated and fluorescence microscopy imaging will be utilized to investigate the cell viability.

[1] Fedorovich NE, Schuurman W, Wijnberg HM, Prins HJ, van Weeren PR, Malda J, Alblas J, Dhert WJ. Biofabrication of osteochondral tissue equivalents by printing topologically defined, cell-laden hydrogel scaffolds. Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2012 Jan;18(1):33-44.

[2] Heid S, Boccaccini AR. Advancing bioinks for 3D bioprinting using reactive fillers: A review. Acta Biomater. 113 (2020) 1-22.

[3] Miguez-Pacheco V, Hench LL, Boccaccini AR. Bioactive glasses beyond bone and teeth: emerging applications in contact with soft tissues. Acta Biomater. 13 (2015) 1-15.