Direct 3D Printing of High Strength Biohybrid Gradient Hydrogel Scaffolds for Efficient Repair of Osteochondral Defect. (17th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gao, Fei; Xu, Ziyang; Liang, Qingfei; Liu, Bo; Li, Haofei; Wu, Yuanhao; Zhang, Yinyu; Lin, Zifeng; Wu, Mingming; Ruan, Changshun; Liu, Wenguang
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 28:Number 13(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-01-17
• Subjects: biohybrid gradient scaffolds -- high strength hydrogels -- osteochondral defects -- thermal‐assisted extrusion printing; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201706644
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

Abstract: The emerging 3D printing technique allows for tailoring hydrogel‐based soft structure tissue scaffolds for individualized therapy of osteochondral defects. However, the weak mechanical strength and uncontrollable swelling intrinsic to conventional hydrogels restrain their use as bioinks. Here, a high‐strength thermoresponsive supramolecular copolymer hydrogel is synthesized by one‐step copolymerization of dual hydrogen bonding monomers, N ‐acryloyl glycinamide, and N ‐[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl] acrylamide. The obtained copolymer hydrogels demonstrate excellent mechanical properties—robust tensile strength (up to 0.41 MPa), large stretchability (up to 860%), and high compressive strength (up to 8.4 MPa). The rapid thermoreversible gel ⇔ sol transition behavior makes this copolymer hydrogel suitable for direct 3D printing. Successful preparation of 3D‐printed biohybrid gradient hydrogel scaffolds is demonstrated with controllable 3D architecture, owing to shear thinning property which allows continuous extrusion through a needle and also immediate gelation of fluid upon deposition on the cooled substrate. Furthermore, this biohybrid gradient hydrogel scaffold printed with transforming growth factor beta 1 and β‐tricalciumphosphate on distinct layers facilitates the attachment, spreading, and chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs) in vitro. The in vivo experiments reveal that the 3D‐printed biohybrid gradient hydrogel scaffolds significantly accelerate simultaneous regeneration of cartilage and subchondral bone in a rat model. Abstract : A high strength biohybrid hydrogel scaffold with precisely designed gradient/architecture, and controllable loading of transforming growth factor beta 1 and β‐tricalciumphosphate particles in distinct layers, mimicking an osteochondral tissue and its micromilieu, is custom‐made by a one‐step thermal‐assisted extrusion printing technique. The seamless integrated scaffold demonstrates an excellent ability to boost simultaneous osteochondral regeneration in a rat model.