Physico-chemical modification of gelatine for the improvement of 3D printability of oxidized alginate-gelatine hydrogels towards cartilage tissue engineering

Kreller T, Distler T, Heid S, Gerth S, Detsch R, Boccaccini AR (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Book Volume: 208

Article Number: 109877

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2021.109877

Abstract

This work explored 3D printing to mimic the intrinsic hierarchical structure of natural articular cartilage. Alginate di-aldehyde- gelatine (ADA-GEL) hydrogel was used as ink to create hierarchically ordered scaffolds. In comparison to previously reported ADA-GEL compositions, we introduce a modified formulation featuring increased amounts of thermally modified gelatine. Gelatine was degraded by hydrolysis which resulted in tailorable printability characteristics further substantiated by rheological analysis. ADA (3.75 %w/v)-GEL (7.5 %w/v) with gelatine modified at 80 °C for 3 h could be printed in hierarchical complex structures reaching scaffold heights of over 1 cm. The hierarchical structure of the scaffolds was confirmed via µCT analysis. To examine mechanical properties as well as the suitability of the hydrogel as a proper matrix for cell seeding and encapsulation, nanoindentation was performed. Elastic moduli in the range of ~ 5 kPa were measured. Gelatine heat pre-treatment resulted in modifiable mechanical and rheological characteristics of ADA-GEL. In summary, this study demonstrates the possibility to enhance the printability of ADA-GEL hydrogels to fabricate hierarchical scaffold structures with shape stability and fidelity, without the necessity to change the initial hydrogel chemistry by the use of additives or crosslinkers, providing a valuable approach for fabrication of designed scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Fraunhofer-Institut für Integrierte Systeme und Bauelementetechnologie (IISB) Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Kreller, T., Distler, T., Heid, S., Gerth, S., Detsch, R., & Boccaccini, A.R. (2021). Physico-chemical modification of gelatine for the improvement of 3D printability of oxidized alginate-gelatine hydrogels towards cartilage tissue engineering. Materials & Design, 208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2021.109877

MLA:

Kreller, Thomas, et al. "Physico-chemical modification of gelatine for the improvement of 3D printability of oxidized alginate-gelatine hydrogels towards cartilage tissue engineering." Materials & Design 208 (2021).

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