The present study was to investigate the rheological property, printability, and cell viability of alginate-gelatin composed hydrogels as a potential cell-laden bioink for three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting applications. The 2 g of sodium alginate dissolved in 50 mL of phosphate buffered saline solution was mixed with different concentrations (1% (0.5 g), 2% (1 g), 3% (1.5 g), and 4% (2 g)) of gelatin, denoted as GBH-1, GBH-2, GBH-3, and GBH-4, respectively. The properties of the investigated hydrogels were characterized by contact angle goniometer, rheometer, and bioprinter. In addition, the hydrogel with a proper concentration was adopted as a cell-laden bioink to conduct cell viability testing (before and after bioprinting) using Live/Dead assay and immunofluorescence staining with a human corneal fibroblast cell line. The analytical results indicated that the GBH-2 hydrogel exhibited the lowest loss rate of contact angle (28%) and similar rheological performance as compared with other investigated hydrogels and the control group. Printability results also showed that the average wire diameter of the GBH-2 bioink (0.84 +/- 0.02 mm (*** p < 0.001)) post-printing was similar to that of the control group (0.79 +/- 0.05 mm). Moreover, a cell scaffold could be fabricated from the GBH-2 bioink and retained its shape integrity for 24 h post-printing. For bioprinting evaluation, it demonstrated that the GBH-2 bioink possessed well viability (>70%) of the human corneal fibroblast cell after seven days of printing under an ideal printing parameter combination (0.4 mm of inner diameter needle, 0.8 bar of printing pressure, and 25 degrees C of printing temperature). Therefore, the present study suggests that the GBH-2 hydrogel could be developed as a potential cell-laden bioink to print a cell scaffold with biocompatibility and structural integrity for soft tissues such as skin, cornea, nerve, and blood vessel regeneration applications.
[1]Taipei Med Univ, Sch Dent, Coll Oral Med, Taipei 110, Taiwan.
[2]Taipei Med Univ Hosp, Div Oral & Maxillofacial Surg, Dept Dent, Taipei 110, Taiwan.
[3]China Med Univ, Biomed Technol R&D Ctr, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
[4]Taipei Med Univ, Shuang Ho Hosp, Dept Dent, New Taipei 235, Taiwan.
[5]Hlth Sci Univ Hokkaido, Sch Dent, Div Clin Cariol & Endodontol, Dept Oral Rehabil, Tobetsu, Hokkaido 0610293, Japan.
[6]Taipei Med Univ, 3D Global Biotech Inc, Spinoff Co, New Taipei 221, Taiwan.
[7]Taiwan Soc Blood Biomat, New Taipei 221, Taiwan.
[8]China Med Univ, Grad Inst Dent Sci, Coll Dent, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
[9]Shanghai Univ Med & Hlth Sci, Coll Nursing & Hlth Management, Shanghai 201318, Peoples R China.
[10]Taipei Med Univ, Grad Inst Injury Prevent & Control, Coll Publ Hlth, Taipei 110, Taiwan.
[11]Taipei Med Univ, Dept Neurosurg, Wan Fang Hosp, Taipei 116, Taiwan.
[12]Ching Kuo Inst Management & Hlth, Dept Oral Hyg Care, Keelung 203, Taiwan.
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