3D-Printed Chitosan-Based Hydrogels Loaded with Levofloxacin for Tissue Engineering Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Tissue engineering scaffolds require biocompatible and mechanically stable materials.
• Incorporating antimicrobial agents can prevent infection in engineered tissues.
• Developing printable hydrogels offers precise control over scaffold architecture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a 3D-printed chitosan-poly(vinyl alcohol)-gelatin hydrogel.
• To evaluate its potential as a scaffold for tissue engineering applications.
• To incorporate and assess the release of levofloxacin from the hydrogel scaffold.

Main Methods:

• Hydrogel preparation via physical cross-linking of chitosan (CS), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and gelatin (Gel).
• Optimization of hydrogel composition (3% CS, 3% PVA, 2% Gel) for 3D printing.
• Neutralization process to enhance scaffold integrity.
• Drug loading and in vitro release studies of levofloxacin (LEV).
• Cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility assessments.

Main Results:

• The optimal hydrogel composition (3% CS, 3% PVA, 2% Gel) yielded smooth, uniform 3D-printed scaffolds.
• Neutralization improved scaffold integrity; hydrogen bonding confirmed hydrogel structure.
• Levofloxacin was successfully incorporated, with sustained in vitro release over 48 hours.
• All fabricated scaffolds exhibited excellent cytocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• A 3D-printable CS/PVA/Gel hydrogel was successfully developed for tissue engineering.
• The scaffold demonstrated effective loading and sustained release of the antimicrobial levofloxacin.
• The cytocompatible nature of the scaffold supports its potential in regenerative medicine.