Abstract
The formation of a nanocomposite hydrogel by the addition of inorganic nanoparticles to a polymer hydrogel can lead to profitable printability for 3D bioprinting as well as improved mechanical properties. In this study, a novel methylcellulose (MC)-based biomaterial ink was prepared for 3D bioprinting by combining laponite (LP), an inorganic nanosilicate, with a thermosensitive MC hydrogel. The addition of LP significantly increased the gelation rate and mechanical stability of the MC hydrogel by strengthening its network structure. In addition, the MC/LP nanocomposite biomaterial ink exhibited excellent shear thinning and thixotropic properties, printability, and shape fidelity, and it was suitable for the 3D bioprinting of anatomical structures, including the human ears, nose, and blood vessels. Finally, the MC/LP nanocomposite biomaterial ink was printed into a 3D construct via cell-laden bioprinting, and the printed object facilitated excellent cell viability and proliferation. Overall, the MC/LP nanocomposite biomaterial ink is a promising hydrogel material for 3D bioprinting.
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This work was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Korean Government (NRF-2021R1A2B5B02002518).
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I declare that all authors had significant participation in this manuscript. YHC: prepared composite hydrogels and wrote the original manuscript, YHY: conducted structural analyses, DL: conducted cell viability tests, SAP: supervised 3D bioprinting, WHP: supervised whole experiments and revised the manuscript.
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Choi, Y.H., Yeo, Y.H., Lee, D. et al. 3D bioprinting of cell-laden thermosensitive methylcellulose/nanosilicate composite hydrogels. Cellulose 30, 5093–5112 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-023-05209-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-023-05209-5