Issue 1, 2020

Glycerylphytate as an ionic crosslinker for 3D printing of multi-layered scaffolds with improved shape fidelity and biological features

Abstract

The fabrication of intricate and long-term stable 3D polymeric scaffolds by a 3D printing technique is still a challenge. In the biomedical field, hydrogel materials are very frequently used because of their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, however the improvement of their processability and mechanical properties is still required. This paper reports the fabrication of dual crosslinked 3D scaffolds using a low concentrated (<10 wt%) ink of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)/chitosan and a novel crosslinking agent, glycerylphytate (G1Phy) to overcome the current limitations in the 3D printing field using hydrogels. The applied methodology consisted of a first ultraviolet light (UV) photopolymerization followed by a post-printing ionic crosslinking treatment with G1Phy. This crosslinker provides a robust framework and avoids the necessity of neutralization with strong bases. The blend ink showed shear-thinning behavior and excellent printability in the form of a straight and homogeneous filament. UV curing was undertaken simultaneously to 3D deposition, which enhanced precision and shape fidelity (resolution ≈150 μm), and prevented the collapse of the subsequent printed layers (up to 28 layers). In the second step, the novel G1Phy ionic crosslinker agent provided swelling and long term stability properties to the 3D scaffolds. The multi-layered printed scaffolds were mechanically stable under physiological conditions for at least one month. Preliminary in vitro assays using L929 fibroblasts showed very promising results in terms of adhesion, spreading, and proliferation in comparison to other phosphate-based traditional crosslinkers (i.e. TPP). We envision that the proposed combination of the blend ink and 3D printing approach can have widespread applications in the regeneration of soft tissues.

Graphical abstract: Glycerylphytate as an ionic crosslinker for 3D printing of multi-layered scaffolds with improved shape fidelity and biological features

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 Aug 2019
Accepted
01 Nov 2019
First published
05 Nov 2019
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Biomater. Sci., 2020,8, 506-516

Glycerylphytate as an ionic crosslinker for 3D printing of multi-layered scaffolds with improved shape fidelity and biological features

A. Mora-Boza, M. K. Włodarczyk-Biegun, A. del Campo, B. Vázquez-Lasa and J. S. Román, Biomater. Sci., 2020, 8, 506 DOI: 10.1039/C9BM01271K

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