Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Elastin is a key component of the extracellular matrix, responsible for providing elasticity and resilience to tissues. Elastin has recently been proposed to mimic the mechanical dynamics of the native tissue environment in 3D bioprinting applications, but it lacks the stability to produce compliant 3D printed constructs. Pluronic F127 is a triblock copolymer widely recognised for its thermoreversible properties and biocompatibility, which can be combined with elastin to create structures that are both biocompatible and mechanically suitable for tissue engineering. In this study, we used extrusion-based 3D printing to fabricate structures from a bioink based on F127 dimethacrylate (F127-DMA) and k-elastin methacrylate (kElMA). We determined the optimal printability of the bioinks using different concentrations of both components. Bioinks prepared with 22.5 wt% F127-DMA and 7.5 wt% kElMA showed good printability and design fidelity. Mechanical tests to assess their compressive strength and elasticity show that the printed scaffolds retained their structural integrity after cross-linking and exhibited a compressive modulus close to that of muscle tissue. Biocompatibility was assessed through in vitro cell culture studies using BJ Fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes The high viability and proliferative capacity of the cells when seeded on the constructs indicate that the composite bioink is promising for tissue engineering applications.
Abstract
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Poster
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