Abstract
Hydrogels tested and evaluated in this study were developed for the possibility of their use as the bioinks for 3D direct bioprinting. Procedures for preparation and sterilization of hydrogels and the speed of the bioprinting were developed. Sodium alginate gelatine hydrogels were characterized in terms of printability, mechanical, and biological properties (viability, proliferation ability, biocompatibility). A hydrogel with the best properties was selected to carry out direct bioprinting tests in order to determine the parameters of the bioink, adapted to print with use of the designed and constructed bioprinter and provide the best conditions for cell growth. The obtained results showed the ability to control mechanical properties, biological response, and degradation rate of hydrogels through the use of various solvents. The use of a dedicated culture medium as a solvent for the preparation of a bioink, containing the predicted cell line, increases the proliferation of these cells. Modification of the percentage of individual components of the hydrogel gives the possibility of a controlled degradation process, which, in the case of printing of temporary medical devices, is a very important parameter for the hydrogels’ usage possibility—both in terms of tissue engineering and printing of tissue elements replacement, implants, and organs.
Highlights
Hydrogels may be defined as a three-dimensional network polymers which have a great ability to absorb large amounts of water or biological fluids, what gives them a high degree of flexibility [1,2,3,4]
We have investigated the influence of various solvents and concentration of gelatine onto the mechanical and biological properties as well as hydrogels’ extrusion ability
(M) with different content of gelatine evaluated after 24 h, 48 h, 7 days, and 14 days of incubation
Summary
Hydrogels may be defined as a three-dimensional network polymers (synthetic or natural) which have a great ability to absorb large amounts of water or biological fluids, what gives them a high degree of flexibility [1,2,3,4]. Due to their high water content, porosity, and physical state, they simulate natural living tissues better than other synthetic biomaterials [5]. Description of the hydrogels as the network is determined by the presence of crosslinks, which prevents the breakdown of polymer chains [2]. The modification of the physical properties of these biomaterials (such as swelling, surface characteristics, mechanical properties) is possible as a result of physicochemical reactions [6]
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