3D printing of self-standing and vascular supportive multi-material
hydrogel structures for organ engineering
Abstract
Three dimensional printable formulation of self-standing and
vascular-supportive structures using multi-materials suitable for organ
engineering is of great importance and highly challengeable, but, it
could advance the 3D printing scenario from printable shape to
functional unit of human body. In this study, the authors report a 3D
printable formulation of such self-standing and vascular-supportive
structures using an in-house formulated multi-material combination of
albumen/alginate/gelatin (A-SA-Gel)-based hydrogel. The rheological
properties and relaxation behavior of hydrogels were analyzed prior to
the printing process. The suitability of the hydrogel in 3D printing of
various customizable and self-standing structures, including a human ear
model, was examined by extrusion-based 3D printing. The structural,
mechanical, and physicochemical properties of the printed scaffolds were
studied systematically. Results supported the 3D printability of the
formulated hydrogel with self-standing structures, which are
customizable to a specific need. In vitro cell experiment showed that
the formulated hydrogel has excellent biocompatibility and vascular
supportive behavior with the extent of endothelial sprout formation when
tested with human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In conclusion, the
present study demonstrated the suitability of the extrusion-based 3D
printing technique for manufacturing complex shapes and structures using
multi-materials with high fidelity, which have great potential in organ
engineering.