3D bioprinting mesenchymal stem cell-laden construct with core-shell nanospheres for cartilage tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Cartilage has limited self-healing due to avascularity.
• Tissue engineering offers a promising strategy for cartilage repair.
• 3D bioprinting enables customized scaffold fabrication with cells, biomaterials, and cues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a novel cell-laden cartilage tissue construct using 3D bioprinting.
• To evaluate the effects of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) concentrations on scaffold properties.
• To assess the sustained release of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and its impact on chondrogenic differentiation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a stereolithography-based 3D bioprinter.
• Fabricated printable resin with gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), PEGDA, photoinitiator, and TGF-β1-loaded nanospheres.
• Assessed scaffold properties (resolution, modulus, swelling ratio) and cell behavior (viability, proliferation, differentiation).

Main Results:

• PEGDA addition improved printing resolution and scaffold modulus while decreasing swelling ratio.
• Cells and nanospheres showed even distribution within the bioprinted construct.
• Highest cell viability and proliferation observed with 5%/10% PEGDA/GelMA hydrogel.
• Sustained TGF-β1 release up to 21 days promoted chondrogenic differentiation of encapsulated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Conclusions:

• 3D bioprinting of cell-laden constructs with TGF-β1-loaded nanospheres is a viable strategy for cartilage regeneration.
• Optimized GelMA/PEGDA hydrogel formulations enhance scaffold properties and cell response.
• Sustained delivery of TGF-β1 supports chondrogenesis, indicating potential for effective cartilage repair.