Addition of Laponite to gelatin methacryloyl bioinks improves the rheological properties and printability to create mechanically tailorable cell culture matrices
Extrusion-based bioprinting has gained widespread popularity in biofabrication due to its ability to assemble cells and biomaterials in precise patterns and form tissue-like constructs. To achieve this, bioinks must have rheological properties suitable for printing while maintaining cytocompatibilit...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AIP Publishing LLC
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | APL Bioengineering |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0166206 |
| _version_ | 1797228306618122240 |
|---|---|
| author | Jordan W. Davern Luke Hipwood Laura J. Bray Christoph Meinert Travis J. Klein |
| author_facet | Jordan W. Davern Luke Hipwood Laura J. Bray Christoph Meinert Travis J. Klein |
| author_sort | Jordan W. Davern |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Extrusion-based bioprinting has gained widespread popularity in biofabrication due to its ability to assemble cells and biomaterials in precise patterns and form tissue-like constructs. To achieve this, bioinks must have rheological properties suitable for printing while maintaining cytocompatibility. However, many commonly used biomaterials do not meet the rheological requirements and therefore require modification for bioprinting applications. This study demonstrates the incorporation of Laponite-RD (LPN) into gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) to produce highly customizable bioinks with desired rheological and mechanical properties for extrusion-based bioprinting. Bioink formulations were based on GelMA (5%–15% w/v) and LPN (0%–4% w/v), and a comprehensive rheological design was applied to evaluate key rheological properties necessary for extrusion-based bioprinting. The results showed that GelMA bioinks with LPN (1%–4% w/v) exhibited pronounced shear thinning and viscoelastic behavior, as well as improved thermal stability. Furthermore, a concentration window of 1%–2% (w/v) LPN to 5%–15% GelMA demonstrated enhanced rheological properties and printability required for extrusion-based bioprinting. Construct mechanical properties were highly tunable by varying polymer concentration and photocrosslinking parameters, with Young's moduli ranging from ∼0.2 to 75 kPa. Interestingly, at higher Laponite concentrations, GelMA cross-linking was inhibited, resulting in softer hydrogels. High viability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells was maintained in both free-swelling droplets and printed hydrogels, and metabolically active spheroids formed over 7 days of culture in all conditions. In summary, the addition of 1%–2% (w/v) LPN to gelatin-based bioinks significantly enhanced rheological properties and retained cell viability and proliferation, suggesting its suitability for extrusion-based bioprinting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:54:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6a723072bc664d5c960f67918adf7d63 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2473-2877 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:54:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | AIP Publishing LLC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | APL Bioengineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a723072bc664d5c960f67918adf7d632024-04-02T19:38:08ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Bioengineering2473-28772024-03-0181016101016101-1210.1063/5.0166206Addition of Laponite to gelatin methacryloyl bioinks improves the rheological properties and printability to create mechanically tailorable cell culture matricesJordan W. Davern0Luke Hipwood1Laura J. Bray2Christoph Meinert3Travis J. Klein4 Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaExtrusion-based bioprinting has gained widespread popularity in biofabrication due to its ability to assemble cells and biomaterials in precise patterns and form tissue-like constructs. To achieve this, bioinks must have rheological properties suitable for printing while maintaining cytocompatibility. However, many commonly used biomaterials do not meet the rheological requirements and therefore require modification for bioprinting applications. This study demonstrates the incorporation of Laponite-RD (LPN) into gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) to produce highly customizable bioinks with desired rheological and mechanical properties for extrusion-based bioprinting. Bioink formulations were based on GelMA (5%–15% w/v) and LPN (0%–4% w/v), and a comprehensive rheological design was applied to evaluate key rheological properties necessary for extrusion-based bioprinting. The results showed that GelMA bioinks with LPN (1%–4% w/v) exhibited pronounced shear thinning and viscoelastic behavior, as well as improved thermal stability. Furthermore, a concentration window of 1%–2% (w/v) LPN to 5%–15% GelMA demonstrated enhanced rheological properties and printability required for extrusion-based bioprinting. Construct mechanical properties were highly tunable by varying polymer concentration and photocrosslinking parameters, with Young's moduli ranging from ∼0.2 to 75 kPa. Interestingly, at higher Laponite concentrations, GelMA cross-linking was inhibited, resulting in softer hydrogels. High viability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells was maintained in both free-swelling droplets and printed hydrogels, and metabolically active spheroids formed over 7 days of culture in all conditions. In summary, the addition of 1%–2% (w/v) LPN to gelatin-based bioinks significantly enhanced rheological properties and retained cell viability and proliferation, suggesting its suitability for extrusion-based bioprinting.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0166206 |
| spellingShingle | Jordan W. Davern Luke Hipwood Laura J. Bray Christoph Meinert Travis J. Klein Addition of Laponite to gelatin methacryloyl bioinks improves the rheological properties and printability to create mechanically tailorable cell culture matrices APL Bioengineering |
| title | Addition of Laponite to gelatin methacryloyl bioinks improves the rheological properties and printability to create mechanically tailorable cell culture matrices |
| title_full | Addition of Laponite to gelatin methacryloyl bioinks improves the rheological properties and printability to create mechanically tailorable cell culture matrices |
| title_fullStr | Addition of Laponite to gelatin methacryloyl bioinks improves the rheological properties and printability to create mechanically tailorable cell culture matrices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addition of Laponite to gelatin methacryloyl bioinks improves the rheological properties and printability to create mechanically tailorable cell culture matrices |
| title_short | Addition of Laponite to gelatin methacryloyl bioinks improves the rheological properties and printability to create mechanically tailorable cell culture matrices |
| title_sort | addition of laponite to gelatin methacryloyl bioinks improves the rheological properties and printability to create mechanically tailorable cell culture matrices |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0166206 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jordanwdavern additionoflaponitetogelatinmethacryloylbioinksimprovestherheologicalpropertiesandprintabilitytocreatemechanicallytailorablecellculturematrices AT lukehipwood additionoflaponitetogelatinmethacryloylbioinksimprovestherheologicalpropertiesandprintabilitytocreatemechanicallytailorablecellculturematrices AT laurajbray additionoflaponitetogelatinmethacryloylbioinksimprovestherheologicalpropertiesandprintabilitytocreatemechanicallytailorablecellculturematrices AT christophmeinert additionoflaponitetogelatinmethacryloylbioinksimprovestherheologicalpropertiesandprintabilitytocreatemechanicallytailorablecellculturematrices AT travisjklein additionoflaponitetogelatinmethacryloylbioinksimprovestherheologicalpropertiesandprintabilitytocreatemechanicallytailorablecellculturematrices |