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Bioprinting Cellularized Constructs Using a Tissue-specific Hydrogel Bioink
Published on: April 21, 2016
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Highly bioactive cell-laden hydrogel constructs bioprinted using an emulsion bioink for tissue engineering
WonJin Kim1, Geun Hyung Kim1,2
1Department of Biomechatronic Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
Biofabrication
|September 6, 2022
Summary
This study developed a porous hydrogel scaffold using an emulsion bioink for tissue regeneration. The novel scaffold enhances cell activity and promotes stem cell differentiation with encapsulated bioactive molecules.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Insufficient pore structure in cell-laden hydrogels limits tissue regeneration by hindering cell interactions and nutrient transport.
- Developing advanced hydrogel scaffolds is crucial for improving cell infiltration and function in regenerative medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design a highly porous, cell-laden hydrogel scaffold using an emulsion bioink for enhanced tissue regeneration.
- To investigate the impact of the emulsion bioink formulation on scaffold printability and cellular activities.
- To evaluate the potential of incorporating bioactive molecules for promoting stem cell differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an emulsion bioink using methacrylated collagen (CMA), mineral oil (MO), and human adipose stem cells (hASCs).
- Optimization of CMA and MO concentrations to achieve desired yield stress and printability.
- Encapsulation of kartogenin and bone morphogenetic protein-2 within the oil droplets of the hydrogel construct.
- Assessment of cell growth, cytoskeletal reorganization, and stem cell differentiation (chondrogenic/osteogenic).
Main Results:
- The emulsion bioink enabled the fabrication of highly porous cell-laden hydrogel scaffolds.
- Optimized bioink formulation resulted in improved printability and scaffold integrity.
- Cell-laden scaffolds showed significantly enhanced cell growth and cytoskeletal reorganization compared to standard scaffolds.
- Encapsulated bioactive molecules promoted chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of hASCs within the scaffold.
Conclusions:
- The developed emulsion bioink is a promising approach for creating porous cell-laden hydrogel scaffolds.
- This method provides a superior cellular microenvironment, promoting cell infiltration and activity.
- Combining bioactive molecules with cell-laden scaffolds offers a novel strategy to accelerate stem cell differentiation for tissue regeneration.
