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Nanoengineered Ionic-Covalent Entanglement (NICE) Bioinks for 3D Bioprinting.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|February 21, 2018
Summary
We developed a novel nanoengineered ionic-covalent entanglement (NICE) bioink for 3D bioprinting. This advanced bioink creates stiff, elastic, and tall tissue constructs with high cell viability for tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- 3D bioprinting requires advanced bioinks for fabricating functional tissue constructs.
- Existing bioinks often lack the mechanical properties and structural integrity needed for complex tissue regeneration.
- Developing bioinks with enhanced stiffness, elasticity, and cell viability is crucial for advancing tissue engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and characterize a novel nanoengineered ionic-covalent entanglement (NICE) bioink.
- To evaluate the mechanical properties, printability, and cell viability of NICE bioink for 3D bioprinting.
- To demonstrate the potential of NICE bioink for fabricating tall, mechanically robust, cell-laden tissue constructs.
Main Methods:
- Formulation of NICE bioink by combining nanocomposite and ionic-covalent entanglement (ICE) strengthening mechanisms.
- Characterization of rheological properties, including Herschel-Bulkley flow behavior, to assess printability and cell protection.
- Fabrication of 3D biostructures using NICE bioink and assessment of structural fidelity, mechanical stiffness, elasticity, and toughness.
- Evaluation of encapsulated cell proliferation and viability over 120 days within the 3D-printed constructs.
Main Results:
- NICE bioink exhibits synergistic strengthening, enhancing mechanical strength, elasticity, and toughness beyond individual components.
- Herschel-Bulkley flow behavior protects encapsulated cells from shear stress during extrusion.
- High cell viability and proliferation (>120 days) were maintained within the 3D-printed constructs.
- NICE bioink enables printing of significantly taller structures with higher aspect ratios compared to conventional bioinks, without support.
Conclusions:
- NICE bioink offers a unique combination of mechanical robustness, printability, and biocompatibility for advanced 3D bioprinting.
- The synergistic strengthening mechanisms and protective rheology make NICE bioink suitable for fabricating complex, large-scale tissue constructs.
- NICE bioink holds significant promise for applications in custom bioprinted scaffolds and tissue-engineered implants, advancing the field of regenerative medicine.
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