3D-Printable and Enzymatically Active Composite Materials Based on Hydrogel-Filled High Internal Phase Emulsions

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Enzyme immobilization in biocatalytic flow reactors enhances reusability and performance.
• Extrusion-based 3D bioprinting enables fabrication of enzyme-entrapping hydrogel structures.
• High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) offer potential as novel bioinks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the suitability of water-in-oil HIPEs as 3D-printable bioinks for enzyme immobilization.
• To fabricate composite materials with porous polyHIPE scaffolds filled with enzyme-laden hydrogel.
• To develop an automated assay for screening material compositions and optimizing biocatalytic efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of water-in-oil HIPEs as bioinks.
• 3D printing of complex structures using HIPE bioinks without sacrificial support.
• Development and application of an automated activity assay for immobilized enzymes.
• Systematic screening of material compositions and object thickness.

Main Results:

• HIPEs demonstrated excellent printability for complex 3D structures.
• Monomer mass fraction and object thickness significantly impacted apparent enzyme activity.
• Mass transfer limitations and enzyme inactivation were identified as factors affecting activity.
• Automated assay allowed rapid screening of biocatalytic efficiency.

Conclusions:

• HIPE-based bioinks are effective for fabricating efficient biocatalytic reactors.
• The automated assay facilitates rapid optimization of materials for enhanced biocatalysis.
• This technology enables the development of flow-optimized and highly efficient biocatalytic systems.