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Balancing Strength and Cell Viability in Gelatin Methacrylate/Gellan Gum Bioink Formulations
Eduardo H Backes1,2, Leonardo A Pinto1, João F Gomes Neto1
1Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering (PPGCEM), São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil.
ACS Omega
|March 23, 2026
Summary
This study developed tunable gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and gellan gum (GG) bioinks for soft tissue engineering. These GelMA/GG hydrogels show promise for central nervous system (CNS) regeneration applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Soft tissue injuries, especially in the central nervous system (CNS), nerves, and cartilage, are difficult to treat due to limited natural regeneration.
- Tissue engineering, combining biomaterials, cells, and signals, offers a promising solution for enhanced soft tissue repair.
- 3D bioprinting allows precise control over scaffold architecture and cell placement, crucial for mimicking native tissue structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize novel bioink formulations based on a dual network system of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and gellan gum (GG).
- To evaluate the rheological, mechanical, and biological properties of these GelMA/GG hydrogels for soft tissue engineering applications.
- To assess the potential of these bioinks for central nervous system (CNS) tissue regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Formulation of GelMA/GG hydrogels with varying concentrations of GelMA (2.5% and 4.0% w/w) and GG (0.25% and 0.50% w/w).
- Evaluation using rheological testing, compression testing, biodegradation assays, and cell viability assessments (live/dead fluorescence microscopy).
- Assessment of cell viability over 1 and 14 days of culture for different bioink formulations.
Main Results:
- Rheological properties, particularly elastic component (G'), strongly depended on GG concentration, influencing hydrogel stiffness.
- Higher GG content increased hydrogel stiffness but decreased biodegradation and reduced cell viability.
- Bioinks demonstrated suitable printability with over 98% cell viability after 1 day; specific formulations (4.0% GelMA/0.25% GG and 2.5% GelMA/0.5% GG) maintained high cell viability (>85%) after 14 days.
Conclusions:
- GelMA/GG hydrogels offer tunable properties suitable for 3D bioprinting applications.
- These hydrogels show significant potential as versatile bioinks for soft tissue engineering, particularly for CNS regeneration.
- Further research focusing on optimizing hydrogel rigidity is recommended to enhance cell viability and refine bioprinting strategies for CNS tissue repair.
