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A Novel Cryogenic Approach to 3D Printing Cytocompatible, Conductive, Hydrogel-Based Inks
Aida Shoushtari Zadeh Naseri1, Cormac Fay1,2, Andrew Nattestad1,3
1Intelligent Polymer Research Institute and ARC Center of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
|May 1, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed a custom cryogenic 3D printer and a conductive hydrogel ink from chitosan and graphene. This innovation enables precise fabrication of robust, conductive scaffolds supporting neural cell growth for tissue engineering.
Area of Science:
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Developing cytocompatible 3D conductive scaffolds is essential for engineering excitable tissues.
- Mimicking the native extracellular matrix is key for successful tissue regeneration.
- Existing methods face challenges in precise control over scaffold properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a custom cryogenic 3D printer for precise scaffold fabrication.
- To create and optimize a conductive hydrogel ink for 3D printing.
- To evaluate the printability, mechanical properties, conductivity, and cytocompatibility of the fabricated scaffolds.
Main Methods:
- A custom cryogenic extrusion 3D printer was designed with temperature control for ink and printing surface.
- A conductive hydrogel ink was formulated using chitosan (CS) and edge-functionalised expanded graphene (EFXG) at various ratios.
- 3D structures were printed, and their conductivity, mechanical robustness, and feature size resolution were analyzed.
- Cytocompatibility was assessed using NSC-34 mouse motor neuron-like cells.
Main Results:
- The custom printer achieved high precision printing of aqueous inks into well-defined layers.
- Conductive hydrogel inks (EFXG:CS ratios 60:40 to 80:20) exhibited good printability.
- 2-20 layer conductive structures with feature sizes down to 200 μm were successfully printed.
- The scaffolds demonstrated mechanical robustness (Young's modulus up to 2.6 MPa) and electrical conductivity (up to ~45 S/m).
- NSC-34 cells showed viability, attachment, and proliferation on the 3D-printed scaffolds.
Conclusions:
- A novel cryogenic 3D printing approach enables precise fabrication of conductive hydrogel scaffolds.
- The developed chitosan-graphene composite material is mechanically robust, electrically conductive, and cytocompatible.
- These scaffolds are promising for engineering 3D-structured excitable cells and tissues.
- The printing system has potential for fabricating various hydrogel-based constructs with high precision.
