Lisa Schöbel

Master student

Evaluation of modified ADA-based Bioinks for 3D-Biofabrication

 

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

Sodium alginate is a highly bio-compatible natural polymer and can be chemically modified, e.g. via oxidation to alginate di-aldehyde (ADA), to introduce further compounds to overcome the lack of cell-material-interaction of the final hydrogel. In this regard, ADA can be combined, e.g. with gelatin (GEL), leading to the promising bioink ADA-GEL exposing the cell adhesion receptor RGD and therefore promoting cell attachment, spreading and proliferation [1]. Since this hydrogel is composed of natural polymers, it is subjected to batch-to-batch variation and therefore lacks in reproducibility [2]. To overcome these challenges, biocompatible synthetic polymers (e.g. polyethylene glycol) is investigated in combination with ADA. Considering that ADA as well as PEG do not promote any cell attachment, migration or proliferation, further functionalization is required. The aim of this Master thesis is the investigation of the prepared bioinks in terms of degree of oxidation, crosslinking degree, swelling- and degradation behavior and printability. Furthermore, biocompatibility as well as cell behavior in the final bioinks will be investigated using NIH3T3-cells.

[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.