Issue 23, 2023

3D printing microporous scaffolds from modular bioinks containing sacrificial, cell-encapsulating microgels

Abstract

Microgel-based biomaterials have inherent porosity and are often extrudable, making them well-suited for 3D bioprinting applications. Cells are commonly introduced into these granular inks post-printing using cell infiltration. However, due to slow cell migration speeds, this strategy struggles to achieve depth-independent cell distributions within thick 3D printed geometries. To address this, we leverage granular ink modularity by combining two microgels with distinct functions: (1) structural, UV-crosslinkable microgels made from gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and (2) sacrificial, cell-laden microgels made from oxidized alginate (AlgOx). We hypothesize that encapsulating cells within sacrificial AlgOx microgels would enable the simultaneous introduction of void space and release of cells at depths unachievable through cell infiltration alone. Blending the microgels in different ratios produces a family of highly printable GelMA : AlgOx microgel inks with void fractions ranging from 0.03 to 0.35. As expected, void fraction influences the morphology of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) within GelMA : AlgOx inks. Crucially, void fraction does not alter the ideal HUVEC distribution seen throughout the depth of 3D printed samples. This work presents a strategy for fabricating constructs with tunable porosity and depth-independent cell distribution, highlighting the promise of microgel-based inks for 3D bioprinting.

Graphical abstract: 3D printing microporous scaffolds from modular bioinks containing sacrificial, cell-encapsulating microgels

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Apr 2023
Accepted
01 Oct 2023
First published
02 Oct 2023

Biomater. Sci., 2023,11, 7598-7615

3D printing microporous scaffolds from modular bioinks containing sacrificial, cell-encapsulating microgels

A. J. Seymour, D. Kilian, R. S. Navarro, S. M. Hull and S. C. Heilshorn, Biomater. Sci., 2023, 11, 7598 DOI: 10.1039/D3BM00721A

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