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Protocols of 3D Bioprinting of Gelatin Methacryloyl Hydrogel Based Bioinks
Published on: December 21, 2019
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Thiol-Ene Clickable Gelatin: A Platform Bioink for Multiple 3D Biofabrication Technologies
Sarah Bertlein1, Gabriella Brown2, Khoon S Lim2
1Department of Functional Materials for Medicine and Dentistry and Bavarian Polymer Institute, University of Wuerzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|October 19, 2017
Summary
Allylated gelatin (GelAGE) offers a novel bioink for 3D bioprinting, enabling flexible hydrogel formation without nondegradable components. This advanced material supports high-fidelity construct fabrication and cell viability in tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- 3D Bioprinting Technologies
Background:
- 3D bioprinting requires advanced bioinks that are cytocompatible and form stable hydrogels.
- Existing gelatin-based bioinks often use (meth-)acryloyl modification, leading to nondegradable crosslinks and limited biofabrication windows.
- There is a need for bioinks with improved properties and broader applicability in 3D bioprinting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the application of allylated gelatin (GelAGE) as a novel thiol-ene clickable bioink.
- To analyze GelAGE synthesis and compare UV-initiation with visible-light initiation for hydrogel formation.
- To demonstrate GelAGE's utility as a platform bioink for various 3D bioprinting techniques.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of allylated gelatin (GelAGE).
- Hydrogel formation via thiol-ene click chemistry using UV or visible light initiation.
- Fabrication of 3D constructs using digital light processing (DLP) and extrusion-based 3D bioprinting.
- Assessment of encapsulated chondrocyte viability postprinting.
Main Results:
- GelAGE was successfully synthesized and demonstrated effective hydrogel formation via thiol-ene click chemistry.
- The GelAGE system offers a wider biofabrication window compared to (meth-)acryloyl chemistry, without additional nondegradable components.
- High-fidelity 3D constructs were fabricated using both lithography-based and extrusion-based bioprinting.
- Encapsulated chondrocytes exhibited long-term viability in extrusion-printed constructs.
Conclusions:
- Allylated gelatin (GelAGE) serves as a versatile platform bioink for advanced 3D bioprinting applications.
- Thiol-ene click chemistry provides a cytocompatible crosslinking mechanism for gelatin-based bioinks.
- GelAGE facilitates the fabrication of complex, cell-laden constructs with high shape fidelity and cell viability.
