Bioinspired 3D printable pectin-nanocellulose ink formulations.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Developing advanced biomaterials for 3D printing is crucial for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
• Natural polymers offer sustainable and biocompatible alternatives to synthetic materials.
• Controlling ink rheology is essential for successful 3D printing of complex structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To formulate and characterize 3D printing inks using pectin and carboxylated cellulose nanofibrils.
• To investigate the influence of polymer composition on ink viscoelastic properties and printability.
• To evaluate the mechanical performance and morphological characteristics of 3D-printed scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Rheological measurements and injectability tests to assess ink properties.
• 1D line printing to establish printing parameter dependencies.
• Ionic cross-linking for scaffold stabilization.
• Mechanical testing and rehydration studies for performance evaluation.
• MicroCT imaging to analyze scaffold morphology.

Main Results:

• Pectin and carboxylated cellulose nanofibrils exhibit suitable viscoelastic properties for 3D printing.
• Ink composition significantly impacts printing parameters and scaffold geometry.
• Ionic cross-linking enhances mechanical properties of the printed structures.
• The ratio of pectin to nanocellulose is critical for scaffold firmness and strength.
• MicroCT analysis revealed the effect of polymer ratio on scaffold features.

Conclusions:

• Novel polysaccharide-based inks were successfully developed for 3D printing.
• The pectin/nanocellulose ratio is a key factor in controlling the properties of 3D-printed scaffolds.
• These findings provide a foundation for creating advanced biomaterial scaffolds with tailored mechanical and structural characteristics.