A bioprinted composite hydrogel with controlled shear stress on cells

Abstract

In recent decades, three dimensional (3D) bio-printing technology has found widespread use in tissue engineering applications. The aim of this study is to scrutinize different parameters of the bioprinter – with the help of simulation software – to print a hydrogel so much so that avoid high amounts of shear stress which is detrimental for cell viability and cell proliferation. Rheology analysis was done on several hydrogels composed of different percentages of components: alginate, collagen, and gelatin. The results have led to the combination of percentages collagen:alginate:gelatin (1:4:8)% as the best condition which makes sol-gel transition at room temperature possible. The results have shown the highest diffusion rate and cell viability for the cross-linked sample with 1.5% CaCl2 for the duration of 1 h. Finally, we have succeeded in printing the hydrogel that is mechanically strong with suitable degradation rate and cell viability.