Phys.org March 31, 2022
The development of hydrogel-based 4D bioinks, especially those allowing living cell printing, with easy preparation, defined composition, and controlled physical properties is critically important for 4D bioprinting. Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a single-component jammed micro-flake hydrogel (MFH) system with heterogeneous size distribution, which differs from the conventional granular microgel as a new cell-laden bioink for 4D bioprinting. The cytocompatible MFH features scalable production and straightforward composition with shear-thinning, shear-yielding, and rapid self-healing properties. It can be smoothly printed into stable 3D bioconstructs, which can be further cross-linked to form a gradient in cross-linking density when a photoinitiator and a UV absorber are incorporated. After being subjected to shape morphing, a variety of complex bioconstructs with well-defined configurations and high cell viability were obtained. Based on this system, 4D cartilage-like tissue was formed as a proof-of-concept. This versatile new 4D bioink system may open several applications in tissue engineering…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Bioprinted cell-rich bioconstructs showing controlled, complex 4D shape transformations. Credit: Eben Alsberg and Aixiang Ding