Printability of Double Network Alginate-Based Hydrogel for 3D Bio-Printed Complex Structures

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Tissue Engineering
• 3D Bio-printing

Background:

• 3D bio-printing requires careful material selection for optimal print quality.
• Hydrogels offer biocompatibility but their printability is often overlooked.
• Double network (DN) hydrogels combine strength, toughness, and biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the printability of poly (ethylene glycol)-diacrylate (PEGDA)/sodium alginate (SA) based DN hydrogels.
• To optimize printing parameters for enhanced accuracy in creating 1D, 2D, and 3D structures.
• To establish a reference for printing complex 3D architectures using DN hydrogels.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of PEGDA/alginate-based DN hydrogels.
• Addition of glycerol to improve ink extrudability.
• Systematic investigation of glycerol concentrations and flow rates.
• Evaluation of printing accuracy for lines, lattices, and tubular structures.

Main Results:

• Glycerol addition enhanced the extrudability of the DN hydrogel ink.
• Optimal printing accuracy was achieved with 25% glycerol and a 2 mm/s flow rate.
• Achieved line width of 1 mm and angular inaccuracy < 1°.
• Successfully printed complex 3D tubular structures with high accuracy.

Conclusions:

• Optimized printing parameters are crucial for achieving high accuracy in 3D bio-printing of DN hydrogels.
• The developed method provides a reliable approach for fabricating complex 3D hydrogel structures.
• This research serves as a foundation for future advancements in 3D bio-printing for tissue engineering applications.