An Adhesive Bioink toward Biofabrication under Wet Conditions

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting innovations require advanced bioinks.
• Intraoperative bioprinting demands bioinks with cyto/biocompatibility and wet-surface adhesion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel adhesive bioink for extrusion bioprinting in wet environments.
• To assess the bioink's printability, adhesion properties, and in vitro/in vivo performance.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of an adhesive bioink using gelatin methacryloyl, gelatin, methacrylated hyaluronic acid, and Andrias davidianus skin secretion.
• Fabrication of planar and volumetric constructs using extrusion bioprinting with handheld devices.
• In vitro cell viability assays and in vivo studies for integration and injury sealing.

Main Results:

• The bioink demonstrated favorable cohesion for extrusion bioprinting in wet conditions.
• Excellent adhesion to various surfaces was observed, attributed to diverse bonding within the formulation.
• High cell viability was maintained in vitro, with successful in vivo integration and immediate injury sealing.

Conclusions:

• The developed adhesive bioink is suitable for sophisticated 3D bioprinting applications, including in situ procedures.
• This bioink has the potential to expand bioprinting applications for in situ wound dressing and minimally invasive tissue regeneration.