Mucin-Based Dual Cross-Linkable IPN Hydrogel Bioink for 3D Bioprinting and Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Cartilage has limited self-repair capabilities, driving the need for advanced tissue engineering (TE) solutions.
• Developing functional scaffolds is crucial for cartilage regeneration, requiring materials that mimic native tissue properties.
• Existing bioinks often lack the necessary mechanical strength and biological cues for effective cartilage TE.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a novel double cross-linked interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel bioink for cartilage TE.
• To incorporate alginate and hyaluronic acid (HA) into a MuMA-based bioink to enhance scaffold properties.
• To evaluate the printability, mechanical properties, degradation, and biocompatibility of the developed bioink for chondrocyte support.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a double cross-linked IPN hydrogel using photo-cross-linkable MuMA and ionically cross-linkable alginate.
• Addition of hyaluronic acid (HA) to the hydrogel formulation to leverage its cartilage-beneficial properties.
• Comprehensive characterization including morphology, swelling, degradation, mechanical testing, rheology, printability assessment, and in vitro biocompatibility assays using C28/I2 chondrocytes.

Main Results:

• The double cross-linked MuMA-alginate-HA hydrogels demonstrated compressive moduli comparable to native cartilage.
• Double cross-linking significantly influenced scaffold degradation, water uptake, and porosity, enhancing stability.
• Biocompatibility testing confirmed the bioink's ability to support C28/I2 cell proliferation and chondrogenic potential.

Conclusions:

• The developed double cross-linked IPN hydrogel represents a promising advancement in cartilage tissue engineering.
• The incorporation of alginate and HA into the MuMA bioink significantly improved scaffold properties for cartilage regeneration.
• This mucin-based bioink shows potential for specialized applications in cartilage repair and regeneration.