Speaker
Description
Bulk hydrogels are comprised of nanoporous polymer networks, and thus restrict cell motility, cell-cell interactions, and nutrient diffusion in bioengineered tissues. To overcome these challenges, interest has shifted toward the fabrication of interconnected microporous hydrogels, which improve nutrient transport, facilitate cell migration, and promote tissue ingrowth. Current fabrication methods, however, often rely on cytotoxic porogenic agents, limiting scalability and biocompatibility. This work presents a tunable and bioprintable microporous hydrogel bioink based on GelMA-HAMA aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). By leveraging the immiscibility between GelMA and aqueous porogen solutions comprised of polyethylene oxide and xanthan gum, we developed a simple, yet robust method to generate highly interconnected porous networks, achieving porosities up to 70%. Crucially, this approach allows for cell inclusion within the pre-gel solution, minimizing washing steps and providing precise control over the hydrogel microarchitecture. The formulated photocrosslinkable bioinks were 3D printed using a viscoelastic support bath, enabling freeform fabrication of anisotropic structures that supported favorable cell proliferation and alignment. This platform offers a scalable, biocompatible route to fabricate functional tissue scaffolds with controlled porosity and geometry in physiological conditions that uphold cellular activity, advancing the toolbox of bioinks to generate programmable porous constructs.
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