Cross-linked Hydrogels Developed for 3D Printing

A team of Japanese biomedical engineers has developed a novel, enzyme-based three-dimensional printing method that enables in vitro growth of complex cellular structures.

Investigators at Osaka University (Japan) reported in the December 11, 2017, online edition of the journal Macromolecular Rapid Communications that they had developed a cytocompatible inkjet bio-printing approach that enabled the use of a variety of bio-inks to produce hydrogels with a wide range of characteristics.

Stabilization of bio-inks was obtained by using the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to catalyze cross-linking within the hydrogel while consuming cytotoxic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the process.

Three-dimensional cell-laden hydrogels were fabricated by the sequential dropping of a polymer-containing bio-ink that had been cross-linked through the enzymatic reaction and H2O2 onto droplets of another bio-ink that contained the polymer, HRP, and cells. More...