Methacrylated Cartilage ECM-Based Hydrogels as Injectables and Bioinks for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Articular cartilage (AC) defects have limited healing potential, often progressing to osteoarthritis.
• Current AC regeneration strategies face challenges due to the lack of biomaterials mimicking native tissue.
• Type II collagen, crucial for AC, does not readily gelate at body temperature, hindering hydrogel development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a methacrylated cartilage extracellular matrix (cECM)-based hydrogel/bioink (cECM-MA) for AC tissue engineering.
• To characterize the rheological properties and printability of the cECM-MA bioink.
• To assess the viability and chondrogenic potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) within 3D printed constructs.

Main Methods:

• Developed a methacrylated cartilage ECM (cECM-MA) hydrogel/bioink.
• Characterized rheological properties, including shear-thinning behavior.
• Utilized UV light for photocrosslinking of 3D printed constructs containing BM-MSCs.

Main Results:

• cECM-MA exhibited suitable properties for extrusion and 3D construct formation.
• Methacryloyl functionalization did not compromise collagen triple helix stability.
• Encapsulated BM-MSCs remained viable post-printing and exhibited chondrogenesis in vitro, producing glycosaminoglycans and collagens.

Conclusions:

• Methacrylated, tissue-specific ECM-derived hydrogels are effective bioinks for 3D bioprinting.
• cECM-MA hydrogels show potential as injectable materials for cartilage tissue engineering.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for regenerating functional articular cartilage.