Abstract
Biocompatible and biodegradable gelatin is a good candidate bioink for use in 3D bioprinting technologies, but viscous gelatin solution has a low printability. In order to improve the poor printability of gelatin, we optimized the rheological properties of gelatin solution. 3D gelatin scaffolds were then cross-linked using physical or chemical methods to maintain the 3D structure. The physicochemical and biological differences between the two types of cross-linked gelatin scaffolds were studied. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the morphologies of the resulting cross-linked 3D scaffolds maintained their structural stabilities. The physically cross-linked 3D scaffolds maintained their surface sizes without a significant decrease (less than a 3% reduction in the surface size was observed)after cross-linking. To evaluate the differences in cell affinity by two types of cross-linking method, human dermal fibroblasts cultured on the cross-linked 3D scaffolds. After 14 days of culturing, DNA assays showed that the cell proliferation rate of the physically cross-linked 3D scaffold was 44% higher than that of the chemically cross-linked 3D scaffold. In conclusion, the optimized physically cross-linked 3D scaffold retained its surface size without significant decreases after cross-linking, as required by 3D-printed patient-specific tissue engineered customized scaffolds, despite the use of water-soluble gelatin hydrogels.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 659-667 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | International Journal of Biological Macromolecules |
Volume | 135 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2019 Aug 15 |
Keywords
- 3D bioprinting
- Cross-linking
- Dried heat treatment
- Gelatin hydrogel
- Tissue engineering
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Structural Biology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Economics and Econometrics
- Energy(all)