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Development of 3D printable graphene oxide based bio-ink for cell support and tissue engineering
Jianfeng Li1,2,3, Xiao Liu1, Jeremy M Crook1,4,5,6
1ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
|November 17, 2022
Summary
Graphene oxide (GO) enhances alginate-gelatin bio-inks for 3D bioprinting, improving cell attachment and viability in engineered tissues. This novel bio-ink shows promise for advanced tissue regeneration applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Bioprinting Technology
Background:
- Tissue engineered constructs are vital for in vitro research and tissue replacement.
- 3D bioprinting enables precise cell and biomaterial arrangement for tissue engineering.
- Alginate (Alg) hydrogels are printable but have poor cell affinity; graphene oxide (GO) supports cell growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a 3D bioprintable bio-ink using alginate, gelatin, and graphene oxide.
- To enhance cell affinity and viability in 3D bioprinted constructs.
- To explore the potential of GO-based bio-inks for advanced tissue engineering.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) into 2% alginate (Alg) and 3% gelatin (Gel) bio-ink.
- Extrusion-based 3D bioprinting at room temperature (25°C).
- Assessment of cell support using adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) seeded or encapsulated in GO-Alg-Gel scaffolds.
Main Results:
- Developed a method for uniform GO distribution in bio-ink over a wide concentration range (0.05%-0.5%).
- GO incorporation improved cell affinity and provided bioactive moieties on scaffold surfaces.
- 3D cell-laden and cell-seeded constructs with GO showed significantly improved cell viability compared to pristine scaffolds.
Conclusions:
- Graphene oxide is a promising additive for novel bio-ink formulations.
- GO-enhanced bio-inks improve cell support and viability in 3D bioprinted constructs.
- Potential applications include in situ biosensing, drug delivery, and electrically stimulated cell function augmentation.
