An injectable, self-healing phenol-functionalized chitosan hydrogel with fast gelling property and visible light-crosslinking capability for 3D printing. (1st March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Yi; Wong, Chui-Wei; Chang, Shu-Wei; Hsu, Shan-hui
• Is Part Of: Acta biomaterialia. Volume 122(2021)
• Page Start: 211
• Page End: 219
• Publication Date: 2021-03-01
• Subjects: Phenol-functionalized chitosan -- Self-healing hydrogel -- Fast gelling -- Visible light-crosslinking -- Bioprinting -- Modular 3D printing; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.12.051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-7061

Abstract

Abstract: Self-healing hydrogels attract broad attention as cell/drug carriers for direct injection into damaged tissues or as bioinks for three-dimensional (3D) printing of tissue-like constructs. For application in 3D printing, the self-healing hydrogels should maintain the steady rheological properties during printing process, and be further stabilized by secondary post-printing crosslinking. Here, a chitosan self-healing hydrogel is developed for injectable hydrogel and printable ink using phenol-functionalized chitosan and dibenzaldehyde-terminated telechelic poly(ethylene glycol). Phenol functionalization of chitosan can introduce unique interaction that allows the hydrogel to possess fast gelling rate, good self-healing ability, and long-range critical gel behavior, as well as secondary visible light-crosslinking capability. The hydrogel is easily pre-formed in a syringe and extruded through a 26-gauge needle to produce a continuous and stackable filament. The cell-laden hydrogel is successfully printed into a 3D construct. Moreover, the hydrogel is developed for modular 3D printing, where hydrogel modules (LEGO-like building blocks) are individually printed and assembled into an integrated construct followed by secondary visible light-crosslinking. The versatile phenol-functionalized chitosan self-healing hydrogel will open up numerous potential applications, particularly in 3D bioprinting and modular 3D bioprinting. Graphical abstracts: Image, graphical abstract