Bacterial nanocellulose enables auxetic supporting implants

Rubina Ajdary; Roozbeh Abidnejad; Janika Lehtonen; Jani Kuula; Eija Raussi-Lehto; Esko Kankuri; Blaise Tardy; Orlando J Rojas

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119198

Bacterial nanocellulose enables auxetic supporting implants

Carbohydr Polym. 2022 May 15:284:119198. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119198. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Authors

Rubina Ajdary¹, Roozbeh Abidnejad², Janika Lehtonen², Jani Kuula³, Eija Raussi-Lehto⁴, Esko Kankuri⁵, Blaise Tardy², Orlando J Rojas⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FI-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland; Bioproducts Institute, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Department of Wood Science, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
² Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FI-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland.
³ Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, School of Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FI-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland.
⁴ Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, School of Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FI-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland; R&D Development Services, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, PL 4000, 00079 Metropolia, Helsinki, Finland.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
⁶ Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FI-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland; Bioproducts Institute, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Department of Wood Science, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada. Electronic address: orlando.rojas@aalto.fi.

PMID: 35287913
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119198

Abstract

Owing to its purity and exceptional mechanical performance, bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is well suited for tissue engineering applications. BNC assembles as a network that features similarities with the extracellular matrix (ECM) while exhibiting excellent integrity in the wet state, suitable for suturing and sterilization. The development of complex 3D forms is shown by taking advantage of the aerobic process involved in the biogenesis of BNC at the air/culture medium interphase. Hence, solid supports are used to guide the formation of BNC biofilms that easily form auxetic structures. Such biomaterials are demonstrated as implantable meshes with prescribed opening size and infill density. The measured mechanical strength is easily adjustable (48-456 MPa tensile strength) while ensuring shape stability (>87% shape retention after 100 burst loading/unloading cycles). We further study the cytotoxicity, monocyte/macrophage pro-inflammatory activation, and phenotype to demonstrate the prospective use of BNC as supportive implants with long-term comfort and minimal biomaterial fatigue.

Keywords: 3D printing; Auxetic; Bacteria nanocellulose; Molding.

MeSH terms

Biocompatible Materials* / chemistry
Biocompatible Materials* / pharmacology
Cellulose* / chemistry
Prospective Studies
Prostheses and Implants
Tissue Engineering

Substances

Biocompatible Materials
Cellulose